USA > Indiana > Knox County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 30
USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Knox and Daviess Counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. ; together with an extended history of the colonial days of Vincennes, and its progress down to the formation of the state government > Part 30
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COL. WILLIAM N. DENNY was born May 12, 1836, at Bruceville, Ind., the fourth of eleven children of William and Catharine (Cook) Denny. The father was born in Kentucky, in 1802, and came to Knox County, Ind., with his parents when but two years old. The grandparents, James and Catharine Denny, were early settlers of the county. The father was reared in this county, and when young joined the Presbyterian Church, and for forty years previous to his death was an elder in the church. He was a farmer and merchant, and for eight years was clerk of the circuit court; previous to that time he was justice of the peace and county commissioner. He was very energetic, and is said to have organized nine different Sunday-schools, and successfully carried them on. He will long be remembered as one of the most prominent and trustworthy men of the county. He died Febru-
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ary 8, 1862. The mother was born in central Tennessee in 1804, and is yet hale and strong, and the oldest member of the Presby- terian Church in the city of Vincennes. William N. was reared in Knox County, and secured a limited early education, but afterward attended the Vincennes University. When twenty-four years old he entered the army in Company G, Fourteenth Indi- ana Infantry as first lieutenant, but was transferred to the Fifty- first Indiana Volunteers, and was made captain of Company E, of which his father had been captain but resigned. He was then promoted to different ranks, and finally to the colonelcy, which he held to the close of the war. While a captain he was captured and taken to Libby prison, where he was for nearly two years, and there contracted disease which yet disables him. He made his escape by cutting a hole through a car in which he was being transferred. After his return from the war he farmed about a year, and was then appointed postmaster of Vincennes under Grant's administration, and served thirteen years, the longest term of any who have held the office. Since that time he has carried on farming, and owns eighty acres of very fine land. He was married, May 24, 1866, to Ellen K. Lemen, daughter of Ben- jamin F. Lemen, of Salem, Ill., who was one of the early settlers of the Northwest Territory. She was born April 8, 1843, and has borne eight children, five now living, viz .: Katie E., Florene G., Gertrude L., Mary E. and Carrie C. Mr. and Mrs. Denny are members of the First Baptist Church of Vincennes, and are ad- vocates of the temperance cause, Mrs. Denny being a very active and efficient worker. Mr. Denny is a Republican, and was deputy clerk of the county.
WILLIAM H. DEWOLF, attorney at law, was born in Fair Haven, Mass., September 30, 1832, son of John B. and Mary (Andrews) De Wolf, and of Scotch-Irish descent. His parents were both born in Nova Scotia in 1801. At the time of the Edict of Nantes the family came from France to America. The father died in Massachusetts, in 1860, and the mother in 1863. Our subject was educated in his native State, and began the study of law in 1850, and two years later came. to Indiana and settled in Petersburg, Pike County. In 1857 he was ad- mitted to the Pike County bar, and continued the practice until
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his removal to Knox County in 1864. That same year he formed a partnership with Judge W. E. Niblack, and remained in part- nership with him until 1871. Two years later he became a partner with S. N. Chambers, the firm being known as DeWolf & Cham- bers. He was married, in 1857, to Carrie H. Drake, a native of the "Empire State" and daughter of Henry Drake. They have three children: Clara, Edgar and Anna. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and one of the most prominent lawyers of the Vincennes bar. He became a Mason in 1860, and is also an I. O. O. F., made such in 1857, having been Grand Master of this order.
JAMES DICK, one of the prominent early settlers of the county, was born in Leslie, Scotland, January 26, 1806, and was of pure Scotch descent. His ancestors for many generations were natives of Scotland. He attended school in his native country, and there received a complete education. He came to America in 1832, but remained only a short time, and then re- turned to his native land and there remained until 1836, when he again immigrated to the United States and located in Decker Township, Knox Co., Ind., where he carried on the farming bus- iness, having learned to farm in his native land. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Constitutional Con- vention. September 6, 1828, he was married to Miss Wilhelmina Watson, by whom he had these children: Marion, Isabella, Wil- helmina, Jemima, Christena, George, Elizabeth, William, James A., Anna, Wellington, Jemima and Emma. In 1853 he was ap- pointed postmaster at Vincennes, under Pierce, and in 1857 was elected mayor of the city, and served one term. His death occurred November 24, 1863. He was an enterprising and eminent man, and one who had many friends.
H. H. DUBOIS is a son born to the marriage of Henry Dubois and Ophelia Clark, and was born January 15, 1820, in Lawrenceville, Ill., and on the death of his mother, while he was yet quite young, he went to live with an uncle, and remained with him until fifteen years of age, when he went to Vincennes, Ind., and began learning the tinner's trade under Nicholas Smith, with whom he remained over twenty years. After a short stay in Evansville, Ind., he returned to Vincennes and opened a shop on his own responsibility, and is doing a lively business. In
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1842 Mr. Dubois took for his life companion Clarissa Devine, by whom he had one child, but both soon after died, and he then wedded, in 1848, Lydia Watson, by whom he has had twelve children. Of these Sarah, William, Jessie, Kate (Wager) and two infants are deceased, and Ophelia, George, Fred, Henry, Jessie and Sarah are still living. Mr. Dubois is a distant relative of Toussaint Dubois, well known in the early history of the county, and in politics is a stanch Republican.
GERHARD H. DUESTERBERG, SR., a prominent pioneer citizen of Vincennes, Ind., was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Prussia, November 18, 1811, son of Bernard H. and Maria An- gela (Kiewit) Duesterberg, who were natives of the same place. Gerhard was reared in the old country, where he secured a good education in his native language. He learned the manufacture of spinning-wheels, and followed that occupation until 1834, when he came to the United States, and worked first in Buf- falo, N. Y., Sandusky, Ohio, and then settled in Cincinnati, where he was joined by his parents, who came over in 1837, and made that city their home until their deaths. In 1837 Ger- hard came to Vincennes, and worked for John Moore as a wood-turner two years, and then started a similar business for himself, which he has continued ever since, in later years en- gaging also in the undertaking business. By industry and close attention to business he has succeeded in acquiring a comfort- able competency, and has a fairly large and remunerative bus- iness. In 1837 he was married to Caroline Beckman, a native of Germany, and all the German families of the city attended the wedding, viz .: Ferdinand Eberweyn and wife, Messrs. Col- lenberg and Klaus, Franz Peters and wife, Frank Spelmeier and wife, and the rest younger persons. To Mr. and Mrs. Duesterberg ten children were born, eight of whom are living: Henry B., city treasurer; John M., druggist of the city; Ger- hard H., grocer of the city; Lorenz, in business with his father; Caroline, wife of John Ostendorf; Mary, wife of Henry Terher; Julia and Elizabeth. Mr. Duesterberg is a Democrat in politics. He was a member of the city council a number of terms, and was a member of the school board twelve years, city treasurer four years, and has been a member of the city board of health
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six years. He and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is one of the eminent and successful business men of the city.
HENRY B. DUESTERBERG, city treasurer of Vincennes, Ind., was born in that city December 9, 1842, son of Gerhard H. and Caroline (Beckman) Duesterberg, who were born in Hanover, Germany. Subject was raised in the city with his parents, and secured a very ordinary education. At the age of fifteen he began learning the cabinet-maker's trade, which he mastered and fol- lowed until 1872, when he engaged in the undertaking and cabinet- making business in Vincennes, with his father, and continued act- ively in the business until September 1883, when he took charge of the city treasurer's office, serving one term of two years, and was re-elected in May, 1885, and is now serving faithfully and and efficiently in this capacity. He is a Democrat, and was elect- ed to his office on this ticket, having been an active worker in local campaigns for some years. July 30, 1867, he chose for his life companion Elizabeth Memering, a native of Hanover, Ger- many. To their union eight children were born-five sons and three daughters. He and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a member of the St. Francis Xavier branch, No. 256, of the Catholic Knights, and is recognized as one among the enterprising and successful citizens of the town and county.
JOHN M. DUESTERBERG is a son of Gerhard H. and Car- oline (Beckman) Duesterberg, and was born in Vincennes Sep- tember 20, 1844. He is of German descent, and is the fourth in the family. He received a common school education at the Cath- olic and public schools, and in 1860 began the drug business in this city in the store of H. E. Peck, and remained with him three years, and then remained with W. J. Luck one year, and then entered the employ of J. D. Lander, also having an interest in the business. In 1875 he entered the same business for himself on Main Street, but sold out in 1880, and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business, In 1883 he returned to his old employment and began selling drugs at his present location, and has a full line of choice drugs. He was married, January 2, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Tracy, a native of Vincennes. Mrs. Duesterberg died the same year. In 1874 he wedded Miss Mary Rikoff, a native of Cincin-
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nati, Ohio, born in 1851. He is a Democrat, and in 1870 he was elected to the city council and served two years. He was chosen township trustee in 1872, and was re-elected in 1874, and again in 1876. He is a member of the Catholic Church, and a representa- tive of one of the old families of the county.
JOHN EBNER is a son of George and Kathrina Ebner, who were natives of Alsace, France (now Germany), where they lived and died. John was born in the same place as his parents June 8, 1817. He was reared in his native land and secured a common German and French education. At the age of fifteen he began learning the miller's trade, which he mastered, and then learned the baker's trade. At the age of twenty-one he enlisted in the regular French Army, serving six years. They were stationed in Africa five years, and he served in the capacity of baker. In 1846 he came to the United States and worked at the baker's trade in New Orleans three months, then in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he soon engaged in steamboating on the Ohio River two years. In the spring of 1849 he came to Vincennes, and after laboring long enough to acquire some means he started a bakery and family grocery store, continuing four years with good success. He then continued two years longer in groceries alone, and on a large scale, but was burned out and broken up in 1855. He soon accu- mulated enough means to build a brewery one-half mile east of the city, and also began retailing liquors. In 1859-60 he built and started the present Eagle Brewery of the city, and continued in the active management of the same until 1878. He also en- gaged in the ice business in 1860, and now owns four large ice houses, near the river, with a capacity of 13,000 tons of ice. He has probably contributed as much toward the growth and pros- perity of Vincennes as any other citizen of Vincennes. He has built a number of good business blocks and dwellings, notably the First National Bank building. In 1848 he married Kathrina Scherer, who died six years later, leaving two children, who are both deceased. Later he married Kathrina Kuhn, his present wife. They have six children: Lena, wife of Joseph Smith; John; Mary, wife of Benjamin Wiesney (?); Joseph; Lorance and Theresa. Mr. Ebner is a Democrat, and was a member of the city council four years. He and wife are members of the
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Catholic Church, and he is known to be one of the first-class citizens of the county.
JAMES EMISON, senior member of the firm of J. & S. Emi- son, proprietors and operators of the Atlas Mills and Elevator A at Vincennes, is a native of Knox County, having been born in that county October 15, 1846. He is the eldest of two sons and one daughter living, born to James W. and Emeline (Scott) Emi- son, both natives of Knox County. Thomas Emison, our subject's grandfather, came to Knox County about 1805 and established the Marie Creek Saw and Grist-mill and a small distillery which he operated during his life, it being the first combined enterprise of the kind in the township and one of the first of any importance in the county. James M. was reared by his father to the busi- ness and operated it successfully during his life, and transacted quite an extensive business in this and also in real estate, grain and live-stock, and accumulated considerable property. His death occurred in Washington Township June 14, 1861. The mother still survives him, being in her seventy-first year. The subject of this sketch was brought up by his father in his native township, and secured a good common school education. After his father's death himself and an elder brother, Samuel (now decased), took the active management of the farm and mill, and a few years later our subject took complete control of the mills, which he operated successfully until 1879, when he removed to.Vincennes, and in company with Scott, his brother, built the Atlas Mills of this city, at first put- ting in four sets of buhrs, but six months later replaced them with new improved rollers, and has operated the mills success- fully until the present time, the mills having a capacity of 300 barrels of flour per day. The mills were partially destroyed by fire May 4, 1885, and the proprietors are now engaged in erecting an addition thereto, which when completed will enlarge the capacity of the mills to 500 barrels per day. In 1883 the firm purchased the Jones & Co. Elevator A, which they have since operated suc- cessfully in connection with the mills, handling on an average 400,000 bushels of wheat and the same amount of corn per an- num, and giving employment to thirty-five men. In October, 1871, James Emison was married to Hulda Mcclellan, a native
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of the county, who died in March, 1881, leaving three children: Stella, Maud and Samuel. Mr. Emison is a Democrat, and was elected county commissioner in 1878, but resigned after a few months' service. He is one of the enterprising and successful business men of the county.
SCOTT EMISON, junior member of the firm of J. & S. Emi- son, was born in Washington Township, Knox County, Septem- tember 23, 1855, and is a son of James M. Emison. He was brought up by his parents in his native township, and secured a good literary and business education, graduating from the busi- college of Indianapolis and then attending Hanover College until he completed his sophomore year. At the age of twenty-one he returned home and accepted a clerkship with G. Winstein & Co., of Vincennes, remaining with them three years, after which he clerked two years in a mercantile house in Oaktown. In 1879 he engaged in the milling business with his brother and present partner. He is a Democrat and unmarried, and, like his brother, is recognized as one of the enterprising and successful business men of the county.
GEORGE FENDRICH, wholesale and retail tobacconist of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Baltimore, Md., March 17, 1841, and is a son of David and Mary (Sauers) Fendrich, who were born in Germany. The father came to the United States when a young man, married, and located in Baltimore until within about a year of his death, when he removed to this city and resided with our subject until his death in 1881. The mother died in Balti- more. George was reared in his native city and secured a good education in the public schools. By the time he had reached his fifteenth year he had mastered the cigar-maker's trade, and left home, working at his trade in a store in Columbia, Penn. In 1861 he came to Evansville, Ind., and clerked in the wholesale cigar and tobacco business until 1864, when he came to this city and started a cigar manufactory on a small scale. His business in- creased from time to time so that he gradually dispensed with making his stock, and now carries a large and select stock of im- ported and domestic cigars, snuffs, pipes, chewing and smoking tobacco, etc., and has the only establishment of the kind in the city. October 11, 1870, he was united in matrimony to Theresa
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Worth, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, They became the parents of five children, four now living; Mary K., Clara, John J. and Helen. Mr. Fendrich is a Democrat in politics and has always manifested considerable interest in political affairs. He was a member of the city council three years, and in 1873 was ap- pointed chief of the Vincennes fire department, which position he has filled with ability to the present time.
HIRAM A. FOULKS, cashier of the Vincennes National Bank, is a native of Knox County, Ind., born May 7, 1832. He and Mrs. Isabel Patterson, of California, being the only surviving members of the family of William G. and Isabel (Charles) Foulks, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The father came West in 1818 and lived for some time in Illinois, and finally came to Knox County, Ind., in 1828, locating about two miles from Vincennes, where he engaged in the combined oc- cnpations of farming, general merchandise and the manufacture of cigars and tobacco, the latter having been his chosen calling in early life. In 1874 he moved to Missouri, where he died in 1876. The mother died in Knox County about the close of the war, and the father afterward married a Mrs. Elizabeth Patter- son, who is now deceased. Hiram A. was raised with his parents, securing a good preliminary education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen he entered the military institute near Frank- fort, Ky., and graduated in the scientific course in 1852. He then returned to Knox County, Ind., and followed civil engineering and surveying for three or four years. In 1855 he accepted the position of deputy auditor of the county and served eight years, and was then elected auditor of the county, and held the position two terms of four years each. At the expiration of his term in 1872 he opened an abstract of titles and real estate office, contin- ning about four years, and then served four years in the record- er's office. In June, 1881, he was chosen cashier of the Vin- cennes National Bank, which position he has filled faithfully and efficiently to the present time. In 1857 he married Mary E. Mc- Kee, a native of Knox County. To them were born these chil- dren: Charles A., William M., Hiram J., Frank D., Henry E., Robert N., George W. and two daughters deceased. Mr. Foulks has been an active Democrat in politics a number of years. He
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became a member of the I. O. O. F. in 1864, and is one of the successful and enterprising business men of the city and county. He has invested considerable money in farming lands and owns a one-half interest in 1,400 acres of land in the White River bottoms near Deckertown, which is well stocked with horses, cattle, mules, etc.
GEORGE FYFIELD, proprietor of the Wabash Woolen Mills at Vincennes, Ind., is one of five children born to the mar- riage of George Fyfield and Eliza Atwell, born in Manchester, England, and Ohio, respectively. The father came to the United States about 1830, and engaged in the cotton business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1832 he came to this city and took charge of the "Davis S. Bonner." In 1862 he, in company with L. H. Grammer, started the Wabash Woolen Mills, which they operated successfully eight or ten years. The mills then passed out of his ownership, but he continued to work in them, and later bought the entire factory, which he operated successfully until his death, April 30, 1885. George was brought up in the busi- ness with his father, and since the latter's death he has owned and operated the factory with the best of success. They manu- facture a superior quality of jeans, satinets, flannels and blankets, finding a good local demand for all the goods manufactured. George employs ten hands, and is doing a lucrative business. In 1880 he married Jennie Borrowman, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have two children: Belle and Frank. He is a Republican and a K. of P. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and his wife is a Presbyterian.
JOHN W. GADDIS, professional architect, of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Olney, Ill., December 2, 1858, and is a son of George and Julia Ann (Brillhart) Gaddis. The father was born in Evansville, Ind., in 1831, and the mother in York, Penn., in 1845. Our subject attended the public schools of Olny, and spent 1877-78-79-80 in the Illinois State University at Urbana, Ill. Here he took a full course in architecture, and later built the public school building at Newton, Ill .; the same at Sumner, Ill .; the opera house at Newton; the Holdzkom block at Effingham, . Ill., and has worked in Salem, that State. He has also exercised his skill in Albion, Washington, Petersburgh and Worthington,
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Ind; the Presbyterian Church at Vincennes; Bernhard Kuhn's residence in the same place; E. Bierhaus & Son's wholesale gro- cery block, and many other buildings. He moved to Vincennes, Ind., in the fall of 1883, and here still resides. He is a member of the K. of P., and was married November 26, 1885, to Miss Ellen E. Loten, of Vincennes. He is the only architect in the city, and is a thorough master of his profession.
ELBRIDGE G. GARDNER, a prominent pioneer .citizen of Vincennes, Ind., and native of the city, was born April 1, 1820, and is one of three surviving members of a family of nine chil- dren, of which he was the eldest, born to Andrew and Hannah (Swift) Gardner, natives respectively of Massachusetts and New Jersey. The father came West about 1812, and located in Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he followed his trade of cabinet-making. In 1816 he came to this city and started in business for himself in the manufacture and sale of furniture and undertaking goods, this being the foundation of the present business conducted by our subject. Andrew Gardner was well and favorably known in the county as an enterprising and successful business man. He was a Democrat in politics, and held various offices of trust in the county, such as treasurer, commissioner, and other local offices. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1860, and the mother in 1874. Our subject was reared in his father's store, and secured the ordinary education of the day. In 1840 he married his present wife, Dorcas Fel- lows, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and continued in business with his father until the latter's death, and has since carried on the business successfully alone. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner became the parents of nine children, six of whom are living: Nancy, wife of Hiram Baker; Dexter, in business with his father; Edward, con- nected with the business; Lucy, wife of M. L. Seddelmeyer; Wil- lis F. and Hannah E. Mr. Gardner is a Democrat of the Jack- sonian school, and has held various minor offices in the county. He is a member of the Encampment, I. O. O. F., and is a trustee and firm.supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he and family belong.
MILTON P. GHEE, general insurance agent at Vincennes, . Ind., was born in Thompson, Ohio, March 3, 1822, and is a son
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of Chester H. and Freedom (Pomeroy) Ghee, who were born in Northampton, Mass. Milton P. was raised in his native county on a farm, and received a good academic education. At the age of twenty-four he began teaching school in his native State, and in 1845 came to Vincennes and followed the same profession two years. He then accepted the position of deputy county auditor, which he held nine years, and then took an interest in the book and stationery, and also newspaper business. He purchased an interest in the Daily and Weekly Gazette, which he conducted successfully until the beginning of the war. He then became bookkeeper for H. B. Shepard, the collector of internal revenues for the First District, continuing eight years, and in 1868 was ap- pointed United States gauger of distilled spirits for the First Dis- trict, and filled the office very efficienly until 1874. In the mean- time he engaged in the fire and life insurance business, and in 1875 established an office in the city, and has met with good and well-deserved success. April 8, 1847, he married Sophia A. Laughton, a native of the county. To them were born these four children: Sophia A., wife of F. A. Hyatt; Mary O., wife of John A. Hatcher; Carrie H. and Milton P., Jr., at work in the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, of Chicago. Mr. Ghee is a stanch Republican in politics, and has taken an active interest in the campaigns of the county and district, and has been an ardent worker for the interests of his party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Episcopal Church, as is his wife, and is justly rec- ognized as one of the successful and highly respected business men of Vincennes.
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