USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock county, Indiana; its people, industries and institutions > Part 97
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112
997
BIOGRAPHICAL.
sense of the word and was one of the most active supporters of St. John's Evangelical church at Cumberland, of which his widow is also a member.
Christian F. H. Deerberg is one of a family of seven children, as follows : Mary, wife of Christian Rodenbeck: Christian, the subject of this sketch; Wilhelmina, wife of Charles Benke; a twin sister of Wilhelmina, who died in infancy: Emma, wife of Louis Kolthoff; Henry C. and Edward. Chris- tian passed his boyhood and youth on the family homestead, attending the Evangelical school, after which he attended the old No. o district school for a short time, his first teacher being Henry Reller. He gave all his time after school days were over to assisting his father in the work of the farm and when thirty-four years old. on December 9. 1906, was united in marriage with Elnora Meier, born in Indianapolis, February 4, 1872, daughter of Henry W. and Elnora ( Pope) Meier. Henry W. Meier was born in Sugar Creek township, this county, February 23. 1845, and died here on February o. 1911. at the age of sixty- six years. He was a son of Henry Meier and wife, both of whom were born in Germany and came to America in the early forties. settling in Sugar Creek township. There they passed their remaining days after the manner of other pioneers of this section. Henry W. was born on the old homestead here, but passed the more active years of his life in Indian- apolis, returning here for his declining years, and here his widow still resides. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Mary. wife of Fred Roeder: Emora, wife of the immediate subject of this sketch: Anna, widow of Herman Watterman: William, who died w eighteen months of age; Harry; Minnie, wife of Charles Rosener, and Rosie, wife of Henry Wulf. After marriage, Christian Deerberg and wife look up their residence when they now reside, twenty acres of which land he bought just after his marriage and ninety-five of which he inherited from his father's estate. This farm has a good six-room residence, a good barn. fifty-two by sixty-six : double corri doghouse eighteen by twenty- four : also a garage and other buildings. Mr. Deerberg gives special attention to the raising of grains, also feeding for the market about thirty hogs annually. He favors the Poland China breed and is successful in this phase of his work. Mr. Deerberg has no children, but his wife has one son by a former marriage. Clarence Caldwell. Both Mr. and Mrs. Deerberg are members of the Germm Lutheran church, of which he is vorsteher. In politics he is a Democrat and is regarded as one of the substantial and progressive citizens of his community. For two years he has served as superintendent of the Hartman road of Buck Creek township and has in other ways demonstrated his interest in community matters, and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
998
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALBERT BUESKING.
Albert Buesking, one of the prominent and successful young farmers of Hancock county, was born in Sugar Creek township on July 29. 1880, being the son of Frederick and Eleanor ( Swartz ) Buesking.
Frederick Buesking was born in Germany in 1855 and there he spent his boyhood and received his education. His father died when he was but a lad and young Frederick worked on the railroad for a time in his native land. At the age of nineteen he came with his sister, Minnie, to America and after landing at New York he came direct to Indiana, locating at Indianapolis, where he obtained employment. He remained in the city for some time, after which he came to Sugar Creek township, where he worked for some years for Anton Schildmeier. It was while here that he met and married Mrs. Christian ( Swartz) Ostermeier, whose husband had died from exposure dur- ing the Civil War. By her first marriage Mrs. Buesking was the mother of two children : Charles and William. AAfter his marriage, Frederick Buesking rented a farm for a short time or until he could get possession of the farm of his mother, where he now resides. The farm of one hundred and ten acres was only half way cleared and improved with a log house and a barn. Mr. Buesking proceeded to improve the place and to drain it. In 1882 he built a modern barn, fifty by seventy feet, and in 1895 he erected a large eight-room house and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings. Here he lived until 1904 when he retired from active life and took up his residence in Cum- berland, where he now resides.
Eleanor Swartz was also a native of Germany, where she was born in January, 1850. She came with her parents to America when she was but one and one-half years of age. After landing in New York the father died of typhoid fever. The mother and children proceeded to Hancock county, In- diana, and located in Buck Creek township and it was here that Eleanor grew to womanhood and spent her girlhood days. Frederick and Eleanor Buesking were the parents of four children : Albert, Edward, who died at the age of twenty : Carrie, the wife of Henry Reasner. of Louisville, and Julia, who is at home.
Albert Buesking was born on the old homestead where he now resides. Ilere he grew to manhood and attended the district schools and later the German school at Cumberland, after which he was a student for three years at the Gem school. After completing his education he continued to assist his father on the farm until the time of his marriage on October 0. 1904. He was united in marriage to Dena Reasner. a native of Sugar Creek township, having
999
BIOGRAPIIIC.IL.
been born on April 5, 1882. She is the daughter of Henry C. and Sophia ( Harding) Reasner, both of whom are of pioneer families of Hancock county, Mr. and Mrs. Raesner were the parents of the following children: Henry deceased ; William, Charles, Benjamin, Dennis, Dena, Minnie, Matilda and Albert.
.Albert Buesking and wife began housekeeping on the home place where they have since resided. In 1909 Mr. Buesking bought thirty-three acres ad- joining the home place on the north, making one hundred and forty-three acres he is farming at the present time. He cultivates about thirty acres of corn and forty acres of small grain each year. He markets about forty-five head of Poland China hog's each year and is interested in the breeding of registered Percheron horses. He now has several mares and colts from the "Metz Stock Farm," at Homewood, Illinois.
Albert Buesking and wife are the parents of three children: . Agnes. Helen and Edward. They are members of St. John's Evangelical church at Cumberland, of which he was a trustee at the time of the buikling of the new church some years ago.
Politically, Mr. Buesking is a Democrat and at present a member of the advisory board of the township. He is a man of much force of character and his ability is recognized and respected by the people of the community in which he lives.
IRA O. FRANKLIN.
Ira O. Franklin, the son of Thomas H. and Mahalia L. ( Roberts ) Frank- lin, was born on March 16, 1871, in Green township. The parents were also natives of the same township, having been born near Eden.
Jasper and Sarah ( Cadwell) Franklin, the parents of Thomas Il., were natives of Greenbrier county, West Virginia, where they grew to manhood and womanhood and were married. After the birth of four of their children they came to Indiana. The journey was made in a wagon and was a most tiresome one. They located near Eaton about the year 1819. llere they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land and began the building of a home for themselves and family. Mr. Franklin erected the log house that was their home until the time of their death. Mr. Franklin was a veteran of the War of 1812. He had been a strong Whig and later united with the Republican party. He and his family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Jasper and Sarah Franklin were born the following children : Allen
OCO I
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
Edward and William, all of whom were in the Civil War: Elizabeth, Sarah, Leah. Joseph, Thomas, Nancy. Delilia, Mary and Robert. The parents of Jasper and Sarah Franklin died in West Virginia. Mrs. Franklin was raised by her uncle, Joel Alderson, a slaveowner of West Virginia. His okl plan- tation is now the site of the town of Aldersonville.
Thomas and Martha ( Hart) Roberts were natives of North Carolina and came to Hancock county at an early day. They located near Eden with their respective parents and were married some years later. Here they entered land about the year 1835.
Thomas Franklin received his education in the early schools of Hancock county and spent most of his life in Green township. For the past four years he has made his home in Madison county. He and Mrs. Franklin were the parents of the following children : Rosa, William, Martha and Ira O.
Ira O. Franklin was educated in the public schools of Hancock and Mad- ison counties and at the Danville Normal School. Ile later engaged in farm- ing, which he has made his life-work. He has eighty acres of well improved and highly cultivated land, on which he has erected convenient and substantial buildings and a large and modern silo.
On December 30. 1896, Ira O. Franklin was united in marriage to Lena Shull, a native of Green township and the daughter of Azzel J. and Nancy Miller ) Shull, both of whom were born near Fortville.
To lra O. and Lena Franklin have been born three children: Vera, Leo and Marjorie. The family are all members of the Christian church.
JAMES BURNS.
James Burns was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, near Miami, on March 28. 1842. He was a son of Harvey and Catherine ( Mckinney ) Burns, Har- vey Burns was born in Pennsylavnia in 1814 and died in Howard county. Indiana, in 1860, at the age of forty-five years. He was a son of Isaac Burns. also of Pennsylvania. Isaac Burns was a pioneer of Howard county, where he spent the latter part of his life. Harvey Burns was one of several children. He spent the early part of his life in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was mar- ried in Ohio and some years later, during the Civil War, moved to Indian- apolis and finally settled in Howard county. He there engaged in farming and spent his declining years. His wife, Catherine, survived him several years. She was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, about 1816, and was the daughter
1001
BIOGRAPHICAL ..
of Andrew Mckinney, who was born and died in Ohio and whose wife after- ward moved to Howard county, where she died.
James Burns, the subject of this sketch, was one of ten children, eight boys and two girls. He spent his early life on the farm of his father in Ham- ilton county, where he attended the district school and assisted his father until eighteen years of age. At that time he moved to Indianapolis, where he re- mained for three years, during which time he worked on the old Colonel Fletcher farm in West Indianapolis. On October 7. 1864. he enlisted in Company B. Twenty-first Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the Civil War and was honorably discharged at Mobile, Alabama, on Octo- ber 7. 1805. During his term of service he saw active fighting and took part in the bombardment of Spanish Fort at Mobile. At that time he was slightly injured by a shell. After the war he returned to Indianapolis, where he re- sumed farming. The following spring he was married to Mrs. Catherine ( Ruddesel) Delaney who was born in Ohio in 1832 and who was the daugh- ter of William Rnddesel, also of Ohio. The following children were born to them: Henry, who now resides in Indianapolis, and Laura, who is the wife of James Kincaid, who resides in Sugar Creek township.
James Burns after his marriage took up his residence on his wife's farm and a few years after bought out the heirs and came into possession of the entire farm. When he took possession of this tract of one hundred acres it had only a small farm house and a log barn and about three acres of cleared ground. He at once proceeded to clear the land and to bring it under culti- vation and to improve it. He erected a good five-room house and a good barn and corn sheds and other buildings in keeping with the grounds. Hle usually cultivated about forty acres of corn and about thirty acres of small grain and he usually had fifty head of hogs. He kept about a dozen head of cattle and a half dozen head of horses all the time. In addition to his own farm he farmed from sixty to a hundred and fifty acres of neighboring land. Mrs. Burns died in igor and a year later Mr Burns married Ollie Lyons, who was born in Decatur county and who was the daughter of David Lyons. To this union were born the following children: Robert Norris, Forrest. who died at the age of nine, and Nettie.
James A. Burns died on February 28. 1916. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At one time he was a steward of this church. His wife is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Burns was a Republican in politics and was one of Hancock county's best-known citizens. He was a resident of the county for over fifty years and was one of the pioneer settlers, highly respected by his fellow citizens.
1002
MIAANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
LOUIS G. LANTZ.
Louis G. Lantz was born in Sugar Creek township. Hancock county. near New Palestine. April 16, 1855. a son of John and Marie (Schleigh) Lantz John Lantz was born in Germany and spent his youth in that country. He received his early education there and was there married. After the birth of his first child he emigrated to America about 1850, making the trip on a sailing vessel which took about seven weeks. Ile landed in New York. From New York he went to Cincinnati by rail, canal and river and then overland to Hancock county, where he with his wife settled in Sugar Creek township. AAfter his arrival he worked for Andy Meier, who lived northeast of New Palestine. He bought ninety acres of land two and one-half miles southwest of New Palestine and for this land he paid fifty dollars per acre. The land had on it an old frame house and a log barn and there were about forty-five acres of it cleared. He lived here the remainder of his life and died on the farm in 1902 at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife survived him six years, dying at the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of seven children, four boys and three girls. Those living are: Louis G., who is the subject of this sketch; John, Mary, Anna, Emma, William, who was the eldest and is deceased, and a son by the name of Henry, who died in infancy.
Louis G. Lantz spent the most of his childhood south of New Palestine. Here he attended the old Snodgrass log school house, just over the line in Shelby county. Mr. Lantz relates that he sat on a mill slab with four pegs for legs while attending school. His first teacher was Mrs. Sarah ( Barnes ) Cunningham. After finishing school here he continued to help his father on the home place until he was twenty-nine years of age. . At that time he was married in 1881 to Emma Eikman, who was the daughter of .Antone and Minnie ( Miller ) Eikman, both pioneer residents of Hancock county. Emma Eikman was the eldest of the children.
After his marriage to Miss Eikman, Mr. Lantz moved to Moral town- ship. Shelby county, where he rented a farm for two years. He then came back to Sugar Creek township and settled on a forty-acre tract of land which he had bought before his marriage for fifty dollars an acre. This tract of land was southwest of the old home place. He built a six-room house on this and a log barn. There were thirty acres already cleared on it. Here he con- tinued to reside for twenty years. In addition to farming his own place he farmed the old home place. In 1906 he purchased the old home farm for ninety dollars per acre from the other heirs and on this he buih a beautiful twelve-room, modern residence, where he continues to reside. This place.
1003
BIOGRAPHICAL.
together with his other farm and twenty acres which he bought just south of his former place, makes him owner of one hundred and fifty acres of good farm land. Ilis wife also owns forty acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Lantz are the parents of eight children, namely: Edward married Clara Weber, of Sugar Creek township, and is the father of three children. Maria, Louis and Arthur: William died in infancy: Carl married Margaret Richman ; Harry, Stella, Alfred. Hlassell and Irma, who are all at home.
Mr. Lantz attributes his success to raising hogs and corn. Hle usually cultivates about seventy-five acres of corn, which averages not less than forty- five bushels to the acre, and in addition about fifty acres of small grain. He is also feeding usually seventy-five head of hogs. He keeps about twenty head of cattle and about ten head of good draft horses.
Mr. Lantz and wife are both members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lantz is a Democrat in politics and is one of Hancock county's most sub- stantial farmers. He is looked on by his neighbors as a model farmer and he is a man of sterling character.
VELASCO R. SNODGRASS.
Velasco Snodgrass was born in Moral township. Shelby county, February 7, 1857, the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Leonard ) Snodgrass.
Benjamin Snodgrass was born in Sugar Creek township, Hancock county, one-half mile south of New Palestine. April 15. 1831, and died at the home of his son, Velasco R., in .April. 1878, at the age of forty-seven years. He was the son of Benjamin. Sr., and Lorena ( Evans) Snodgrass. Benjamin Snodgrass, Sr., came from Kentucky to Indiana about 1830 and took over a part of the old Mernon farm, south of New Palestine, which had been entered as a government tract. This place contained one hundred and twenty acres of virgin timber and Benjamin Snodgrass, Sr., made his home in what was then a wilderness. His efforts were cut short by his early death, which occurred late in 1830 or early in 1831. His widow, five children, four boys and one girl, continued to live on the old homestead until the death of Mrs. Snod- grass. It was on this old homestead that Benjamin Snodgrass, Jr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born and grew to manhood. He experienced all the hardships of the early pioncer life. He was married at the age of nineteen to a Miss Roseberry and to this union were born two children : one.
.
1001
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
a girl, who died in infancy, and the other, Elwood, who lives at the present time in lowa. Benjamin Snodgrass, Jr., was married, secondly, to Sarah Leonard, who was born in North Carolina on April 14, 1852, and who was the daughter of John .A. and Lavina ( Curry ) Leonard, both of North Car- olina. They were likewise pioneers of Sugar Creek township. Their okl homestead is in the south part of Sugar Creek township. where Homer Leonard now resides. Sarah Leonard, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch, was one of thirteen children, all deceased except Homer, Melissa and Sheppard. After the first marriage of Benjamin Snodgrass, he started to farm for himself on forty acres which he at that time owned and which is now a part of the William Lantz farm. After his second marriage, he and his brother bought a farm in Moral township. Shelby county, and there he resided for six or seven years. In the fall of 1864 he moved to a farm two and one-half miles southeast of New Palestine, where he bought an eighty- acre tract. Here he spent the remainder of his hfe This place had only a small log house and barn and about thirty acres of cleared land. He died here in 1878 at the age of forty-seven. His wife survived him by about ten years. She died in June, 1887, at the age of fifty-seven years.
It was to this place where he now resides that Velasco Snodgrass, the subject of this sketch, came, with his parents. as a boy of seven years. He spent the balance of his childhood and youth here and attended the okl Gates school. His first teacher in Shelby county was Sarah Cunningham and his first teacher in Hancock county was Hoppy McDongal. He remained on the old home place until he was twenty-four years of age. On November 3. 1881. he was married to Diza Smith, who was born in Moral township. Shelby county. April 4. 1857. the daughter of James B. and Nancy ( Emmons) Smith, both of whom were natives of Maryland and came to Shelby county in the carly pioneer days. The Smiths settled in Shelby county and the Em- mons in Hancock county. The former had thirteen children. eleven of whom still survive, and Diza Smith, the wife of the subject of this sketch. was the tenth in order of birth. After his marriage. Velasco R. Snodgrass rented his father-in-law's farm in Shelby county for two years. He then moved back to his old home place, where he has since resided. After his mother's death he bought out the other heirs and became the sole owner of the home place. lle has continued to improve the place by improving his residence, which now contains eight rooms, and his barn, which is now thirty- six by fifty feet. He has also erected a fine stock barn and a double corn- crib and other buildings in keeping with the surroundings. In ryto he bought forty acres one mile northeast of the home place and for this he paid one hun-
1005
BIOGRAPHICAL ..
dred and fifteen dollars per acre, and in 1914 he bought forty acres more adjoining this tract, for which he paid one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
Velasco R. Snodgrass and wife are the parents of the following children : Clarence, who is married to Nannie Tucker and who resides in Sugar Creek township and who is the father of two children, Agnes and Frances ; James H., Ira. Carrie, the latter three all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Snod- grass had five children, two boys and three girls; Velasco, who is the subject of this sketch; Nenis, who died at the age of nineteen years; Levina, who died at the age of two; Marie, who is the wife of Marshall Bussel, who re- sides at Morristown ; Esther, who is the wife of Albert Stone and who resides at Morristown, Indiana.
Velasco R. Snodgrass is a Democrat in politics. He has served as town- ship trustee of Sugar Creek township from 1905 to 1909. He is one of Han- cock county's well-known and substantial citizens. His standing in this com- munity is shown by the offices which he has held and of other opportunities which he felt compelled to decline. It goes without saying that he enjoys the respect of his fellow citizens and that he is a man of sterling character.
SAMUEL B. SLAUGHTER.
Samuel B. Slaughter was born near Warrington. Hancock county, on January 1, 1843, and was the son of William and Penina ( Beck ) Slaughter. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Wayne county, Indiana. William Slaughter was reared in Virginia and came to Hancock county as a young man. Here he bought a farm of eighty acres and began farming. Hle was later married in the county. To William Slaughter and wife were born the following children: James, Samuel, William, Mary. Franklin Levina and Robert.
Samuel Slaughter received his education in the common schools of Han- cock county and after leaving school he became a carpenter, at which trade he worked for thirteen years. At the time of his marriage he gave up his trade and bought one hundred acres of land in Green township and began farming. Ile still resides on the original farm, where he has erected modern and suh- stantial buildings and has his farm under good cultivation. He is a breeder of fine Duroc-Jersey hogs. During the past four months Mr. Slaughter has been in ill health and his son attends to the active management of the farm. In 1873 Mr. Slaughter was united in marriage to Herzella Bradley, an
1006
HANCOCK COUNTY, INDIANA.
to this union the following children have been born: Daisy, who married William Rogers and lives in Madison county. Indiana, and has three children, Ralph. Helen and Howard: Ray, who married Susie Curry, lives in Green township, Hancock county, and has one child. a girl, Elthia ; Pluma, who mar- ried Ward Keller, lives in Wilkinson, Ilancock county, and has one child. Elizabeth : Edna, who married Paul Ferrell, lives in Kokomo. Mr. Slaughter amd1 family are members of the United Brethren church.
Fraternally, Mr. Slaughter is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and takes an active interest in the success of the order. He has never been an office-seeker, but looks to the election of the best men to office.
AZZEL J. SHULL.
Azzel J. Shull, a native of Hancock county, was born in Vernon town- ship. on . August 15, 1846, and was the son of MeCagey and Mary (Cadell) Shull, natives of New Jersey and Ohio, respectively. The parents of McCagey Shull lived and died in New Jersey. John Cadell and wife, the parents of Mary (Cadell) Shull, were natives of North Carolina and came to Ohio on horseback, later locating in Indiana near Fortville.
McCagey Shull, the father of .Azzel, received his education in the schools of New Jersey. After spending his boyhood days in his native state, he came to Ohio and there met and married Mary Cadell. They later settled near Fort- ville and there Mr. Shull engaged in farming until the time of his death. Mary Shull died some time after coming to their new home and later Mr. Shull married Mrs. Sarah ( Hellem) York. By the first marriage Mr. Shull was the father of eight children. five boys and three girls, and by the second marriage one child. The sons, John and William, were in the Civil War. John serving for four years and William for one year.
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.