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 35
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 35
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HENRY SCHAFFER was born in Prussia January 11, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Schroeder) Shaffer, who were born in the same country. The family came to the United States in 1853 and located in Knox County, Ind., on a farm. Here Henry lived until he was eighteen years old, when he went to St. Louis, Mo., and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until the beginning of the war. He then returned home, and in January, 1863, came to Vincennes and followed teaming, carpenting and clerking in stores until 1875, when he engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he has continued ever since. In 1882 he built his present commodious brick store-room, which he uses as a store-room and dwelling. He has a fine line of general merchandise, and is doing a paying business. In 1865 he married Wilhelmina Weitzel, a native of Ohio. They have eight children: William, Henry, John, Emma, August, Laura, Louis and Eleanor. He is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the St. John's Evangelical Church of this city.
CONRAD SCHEEFERS, a prominent business man of Vin- cennes, Ind., is a son of John and Mary (Caskort) Scheefers, who were born in the city of Paderborn, Prussia. Conrad was born in the same place December 20, 1841, and here he received his ed- ucation and learned the carpenter's and millwright's trades, at which he worked in his native country until 1867. He then im- migrated to the United States and came directly to Vincennes, where he worked at his trade one year and clerked in the hard- ware business two years. He then conducted the Central Hotel
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and Saloon of this city until 1879, when he sold out and went to his native country on a visit. He returned to Vincennes in 1880 and engaged in the retail liquor business, where he conducts a strictly first-class house in all respects. He also has the agency for European steamship lines, the only agency of the kind in the city. October 28, 1872, he married Barbara Hartts, a native of Bohemia. To them were born seven children, three now living: Anna, Frank and William. Mr. Scheefers is a Democrat in poli- tics and has taken an active interest in the political affairs of the city for a number of years. He is at present serving his sixth term in the city council. He is essentially a self-made man, as he came to Vincennes a poor boy. By close application to his duties, economy and strict business integrity, he has won his way to the front and is now one of the solid business men of the city. He and his family are members of the Catholic faith, and he is a member of the C. K. of A.
JOSEPH SCHMIDT, manufacturer and wholesale dealer in cigars, of Vincennes, Ind., was born near Vienna, Austria, June 30, 1841, son of Frank and Josepha (Grenn) Schmidt, who were also natives of Vienna, where they lived and died. Joseph grew to manhood in his native land and obtained a good German edu- cation. He was employed with his father in the service of the Government from sixteen to twenty-one, and then left home and came to the United States and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and kept a notion store two years. He then began steamboating on the Wabash River, still retaining an interest in his mercantile business. In 1873-74 he engaged in the manufacture of hoop- skirts and window shades in New York City. Returning to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, he engaged in the manufacture of cigars with Mr. E. Gloss, his present foreman. In 1879 he came to Vincennes, Ind., and engaged in the same business, continuing to the present time. He gives employment to about twelve experienced cigar- makers, putting out nothing but first-class stock, for which he finds a ready market in the city, also in the southern part of Indi- ana and Illinois. He also handles all kinds of chewing and smoking tobaccos and snuffs. In 1878 Mr. Schmidt married Lena Ebner, daughter of John Ebner of this city. He is inde- pendent in politics and a member of the Catholic Church.
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JAMES F. SECHLER was born in Danville, Penn., Novem- ber 30, 1829, son of Jacob and Barbara (Reese) Sechler, natives of Pennsylvania and Switzerland, respectively. James F. was raised in Danville and there learned the machinist's trade. After he became of age he left home and worked at his trade in various places, and was foreman in machine shops for different railroads for a number of years. In 1876 he came to Vincennes and ac- cepted the position of general master mechanic for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which position he held about five years; he then resigned and accepted a similar position with the Texas Pacific Railroad, but after a year's service with that road he returned to this city and engaged in his present business. June 17, 1832, he married Mury Farley, a native of Pennsylvania. To them were born seven children, six of whom are living-two sons and four daughters. Mr. Sechler, Daniel M. Lynch and Edward Watson are proprietors of the city machine shops and foundry. The business was established in 1882 by Mr. Sechler, L. L. and Edward Watson, who erected the present building, and started a general repair and machine shop, also a foundry for all kinds of brass and iron castings, and give employment to ten men. The firm has had charge of the business since 1883 and has had good success in every respect.
MARTIN L. SEDDELMEYER, sheriff of Knox County, Ind., was born in Harrison County, Ind., September 22, 1844, son of John H. and Margaret (Traub) Seddelmeyer, who were na- tives of Germany. The father came to the United States between 1830 and 1835, and located first at Fort Wayne, Ind., next in In- dianapolis, then in Harrison County, thence to Dubois County, and finally in 1852 removed to Knox County and located in Wid- ner Township, where he preached the gospel and also practiced medicine. His death occurred in Vanderburg County February 20, 1864. He was well and favorably known throughout the southern part of the State as an earnest worker for the cause of religion, being a minister of the German Lutheran Church. Our subject was raised principally in Knox County on a farm, securing a fair education in the common schools. After his father's death he went to Indianapolis and clerked in the mercantile business two years, and then returned to this county and followed a similar
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occupation. He then learned the gunsmith's trade at Freelands- ville, in this county, where he resided with his mother. He was elected constable in 1872, and in 1874 accepted the position of deputy sheriff, which office he continued to hold until November, 1884, when he was elected to the office of sheriff, which he is now filling in a very efficient manner, owing to his long experience as deputy. September 5, 1877, he was married to Lucy A. Gardner, a native of Vincennes, and daughter of E. G. Gardner, a pioneer citizen of the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Seddelmeyer these four chil- dren were born: Dexter A., Margaret, Dorcas and Elbridge G. Mr. Seddelmeyer has always been an unswerving Democrat in his political views, and takes an active part in the local campaigns in the county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is recognized as a popular and efficient official, and one of the first citizens of the county.
GEORGE W. SHAW is a native of Campbell County, Ky., born June 20, 1853, son of Coleman and Mary E. (Reily) Shaw, and is of Irish descent. His father was born in the same State and county as himself in 1818. The mother's birth occurred in 1829. Mr. Shaw's boyhood days were spent in farming in sum- mer and attending school in winter. In 1873 he entered Georgetown College at Georgetown, Ky., and attended this school three years. He taught school six years and his last work was in the Butler High School. He began reading law in Louisville, Ky., in 1876, and in 1879 came to Vincennes and entered the law office of Judge F. W. Viehe, and continued his study two years. He was admit- ted to the Knox County bar in 1880 and formed a partnership with William A. Cullop, and the firm was known as Cullop & Shaw. He is a Democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. In 1881 he was appointed master commissioner of the Knox Circuit Court and has since held the position. He is one of the leading attorneys of the Vincennes bar.
LEANDER J. SHEPARD, coal dealer, of Vincennes, Ind., is a son of Horace B. and Martha (Harper) Shepard, who were born in Kentucky. The father came to Knox County, Ind., in 1820, and located on a farm, where he resided until 1862 and then took up his residence in this city, where he now resides at
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the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He was formerly a Whig in politics but is now a Republican. He has held a number of important offices in town and county, and was a member of the State Legislature one term and has been an active worker for his party in his day. Leander J. was born in Knox County, Ind., November 12, 1828, and spent his boyhood days on a farm and secured a common school education. At the age of twenty-six he engaged in the mercantile business in Illinois, continuing there five or six years. He then returned to this city and soon after accepted a position under Gen. James C. Veatch, in the office of collector of revenue at Evansville, and remained with him two years. He then returned to this city in 1881 and purchased an interest in the Edwardsport Coal Company, and also established his coal yards in this city. The mine which supplied their coal gave out, and he in company with others organized the Indian Creek Coal Company and opened up a mine at Bicknell, which they are now operating successfully. In 1854 Mr. Shep- ard married Jane Emmons, a native of Illinois. They have one son, named Charles E. Mr. Shepard is a Republican in politics and a member of the I. O. O. F.
ANTON SIMON, of the Eagle Brewing Company of Vincennes, was born in Alsace, France (now Germany), November 2, 1848, and is a son of Peter and Barbara (Risch) Simon, natives respect- ively of Savoy and Alsace, France. Anton was reared with his parents in his native country, and secured a good ordinary German and French education. At the age of thirteen he left home and came to the United States, locating almost immediately in Vin- cennes, where he engaged as clerk in the dry goods business for a short period, and then worked for some time in Jacob Kautz's brewery. Later he clerked in a confectionery store about five years. He then worked for about two years at the bookbinders' trade, and in 1869 entered the employ of John Ebner, Sr., in the brewery business, and has continued in the establishment ever since, taking a partnership in 1874. In 1869 he married Caroline Ebner, a daughter of John Ebner, Sr., who died in 1872. To them was born one child, deceased. In 1876 he married his pres- ent wife, Anna Weisenberger, a native of Mt. Carmel, Ill. They have three children: Clara, Eugene A. and Louis J. Mr. Simon
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is a Democrat in politics and a warm advocate of the principles of his party. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN EBNER, JR., bookkeeper and junior partner of the Eagle Brewing Company, is a native of Knox County, Ind., where he was born May 12, 1859, son of John Ebner, Sr., of this city. He was reared in Vincennes, and obtained a very good education, attending the St. Meinrad College in Spencer County, and the St. Joseph College at Teutopolis, Ill. After completing his educa- tion he engaged in his present business, and in 1880 took a part- nership with the firm. He is unmarried, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. The Eagle Brewing Com- pany, of which these gentlemen are proprietors, was established in 1859, by John Ebner, Sr., who conducted it alone until 1870, when he leased the building to various parties who proved unsuc- cessful in its management, and accordingly, in 1874, he, in com- pany with Eugene Hack and Austin Simon, refitted and remod- eled the old building, until it now ranks among the first in the State. The building is a large, three-story brick, and is supplied throughout with all modern appliances and conveniences. They have completed a new double cellar, which is used for storing hogshead beer and fermenting, and in addition they have a fine brick office, of Gothic architecture, on the first floor, which is handsomely fitted up. They manufacture about 18,000 barrels of beer per year, and employ about five wagons and twelve head of horses for the home trade. The beer is of such high quality that it has not only kept away all foreign competition in southwestern Indiana, but has compelled the proprietors to establish refrigerator depots in Washington, Ind., Carmi and Olney, Ill., and Jasper and Princeton, Ind., besides supplying southern Illinois and Indi- ana within a radius of seventy-five miles.
HENRY M. SIMPSON, a prominent and enterprising nur- seryman and fruit-grower of the State, was born March 18, 1847, in Palmyra Township, and is the third child of Archibald and Jane C. (McCord) Simpson. The father was born in Vincennes Town- ship in 1802, and was reared in the county, being a son of Patrick Simpson, a native of Scotland, who came to this country from Glasgow in 1783, and lived all his life here as one of the early
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pioneers. He kept a store in Vincennes at one time, and was en- gaged in many skirmishes with the Indians. Our subject's father was also a resident of the county all his life, and was a very prosperous farmer and nurseryman. He was one of the associate judges of the county, and a prominent man. He was a Republican at the time of his death, March 23, 1873. He left three children: James H., in the Pension Office in Washington, D. C .; Henry M., our subject, and John N., proprietor of the Vincennes Greenhouse. Mr. Simpson was the founder of the Knox County Nursery, com- prising 100 acres in small fruit. Henry M. was reared on the old homestead in Palmyra Township, and secured a good common- school education. At the age of twenty-three he married, and con- tinued to make his home with his mother. He owns 104 acres of well-improved land, besides his nursery, with a good residence in a nice location. June 21, 1870, he wedded Adelia McCord, daugh- ter of Robert and Martha McCord. They have five children: Harry, Robert A., Charles A., Anna L. and Ray C. Both hus- band and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F., and politically has always been a Re- publican. His brother James served four years in the late war. Henry M. devotes his time to raising small fruits. The yearly strawberry yield is about 800 bushels, and raspberries and black- berries 200 bushels each. He has about half a million apple- grafts for this spring's planting (1886).
HUBBARD M. SMITH, M. D., of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Winchester, Ky., September 6, 1820, son of Willis R. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Smith. The father was a native of Kentucky, and was a lieutanant in the war of 1812. In 1850 he removed to Missouri, where he died five or six years later. He was a farmer and merchant, and was well educated for his day, being a teacher for several years. The mother was a daughter of Hubbard Tay- lor, who came with Gen. Knox to survey Kentucky, and afterward became a prominent citizen of that State. Our subject's early boyhood was spent on a farm and in attending the common schools, obtaining a somewhat limited education. At the age of fourteen he left home and began learning the saddlery and harness-maker's trade, continuing at this until he was twenty years of age, and in the meantime, by desultory study, improved his rudimentary edu-
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cation, and at the age of twenty-one had improved his education sufficiently to enable him to begin teaching, which he followed in order to procure means to enable him to obtain a medical educa- tion. He attended the medical department of the Transylvania University in 1845, and then practiced in his native State. In 1848 he entered the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, and graduated in 1849. Since that time he has practiced his pro- fession in Vincennes, where he has met with more than ordinary suc- cess. In 1859 the Doctor purchased the Vincennes Daily Gazetle, conducting it but a short time, and giving it up for the position of postmaster of Vincennes, which he held for over eight years. Since that time he has given his attention to his large and re- munerative practice. In 1846 he married Nannie W., daughter of Gen. Edmund Pendleton, of Clark County, Ky. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Edmund W. P., United States Consul at Carthagena, South America; Ma- ry E .; Hubbard T., employed in the War Department as Wash- ington, D. C., and a musical composer of considerable notoriety in the capital; Alice Cary; Cyrus A., druggist at Vincennes, and Curtis P., a young attorney of this city. The Doctor is promi- nently identified with a number of medical societies, and is con- sidered one of the ablest and most experienced physicians in the county. He has shown his ability as a literary writer since his residence here, having published numerous poems and other ar- ticles of merit in the local and other papers; also keeping up some correspondence with metropolitan papers at various times for a number of years. He and family are members of the Pres- byterian Church.
WEBSTER SMITH, an enterprising farmer of the county, was born in Clark County, Ind., October 29, 1836, and is the young- est of five children of Bastion and Hannah (Nickerson) Smith, natives of Saratoga County, N. Y. The mother was born in 1803, and came to Knox County about 1819. They were married in said county and moved to Clark County, where the father died when our subject was but six months old. The mother then re- turned to Knox County, where she died in 1872. Our subject did not return with his mother, but was about eight years old on his arrival here. He attended the common schools, and acquired
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nearly all his education by self-application at home. He made his home with a brother until fourteen years of age, when he began supporting himself. He began farming, and lived with his. mother from the time he was twenty-one until her death. He married a few years after, and continued farming on the same place. He has succeeded well, and owns 138 acres of very fine land well improved. November 22, 1877, he wedded Mary E. Harvey, a native of Monroe County, and the mother of five chil- dren by a former marriage. Three of these children are now with Mr. Smith. He has no children of his own. He is a mem- ber of the Republican party, and a good citizen.
CHRISTIAN SPIEGEL, a prominent citizen of Vincennes, Ind., was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, August 1, 1823, son of Jacob and Sophia E. (Braun) Spiegel, natives of the same place. Christian came to the United States with his parents in 1832, and located at Baltimore, Md., where the father died in 1835. In 1837 the family removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and here Christian learned the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked until about 1846 or 1847, when he moved to Lawrenceburg, Ind., and remained about nine years. In 1855 he removed to Indian- apolis, and engaged in the manufacture of furniture in partner- ship with his brothers and Frederick Thomas, this being the commencement of the largest business of the kind in that city, and one of the largest in the West. In 1878 our subject sold his interest in the business, and having accumulated a comfortable fortune, came to Vincennes and engaged in the same business with William Roberts three years, when four gentlemen pur- chased Mr. Robert's share, and Mr. Spiegel, in company with these gentlemen, has conducted the business successfully to the present time. They make a specialty of the manufacture of bed- steads, making on an average nearly 300 per week, and giving employment to thirty men. In 1845 Mr. Spiegel married Amelia Boyce, a native of Kentucky. They had these eight children, six living: Edward, William, Frederick A., Fannie J. (wife of Edward Perkins), Charles A. and Arthur E. Subject is a Re- publican in politics and strictly temperate in all his habits. He is an Odd-fellow, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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GEORGE R. SPITZ, dealer in hats, caps, and gents' furnish- ing goods, in Vincennes, Ind., is a native of Knox County, Ind., born February 2, 1859, son of Roman and Martha (Bernstein) Spitz. The father was a native of Alsace, France (now Ger- many), and came to this State in 1849, where he has since re- sided. The mother was born in Louisville, Ky. George R. was raised in this city, and acquired a very good German and English education. At the age of eighteen he engaged as clerk with I. Joseph & Son, and remained with them until December, 1884, when he was engaged in the gents' clothing and furnishing busi- ness with G. F. Montgomery, continuing until June, 1885. Au- gust of the same year he engaged in his present business, in which he is meeting with good and well-deserved success. He carries a good and full line of goods, the best in the city, and commands the leading trade in town and county. September 24, 1884, he married Tillie Gubelman, a native of Daviess Coun- ty, Ind. They have one daughter, Hazel E. In politics Mr. Spitz is a Democrat, and is one of the leading business men of the city.
FREDERICK WILLIAM STAFF, general master mechanic of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, was born in Newport, Ky., March 9, 1852, being a son of William J. and Wilhelmina (Sauer- brey) Staff, who were born respectively in Saxony and Hanover. Frederick W. was reared with his parents in his native city, hav- ing but few opportunities for acquiring an education. When fourteen years of age he began learning the machinist trade, which he mastered in Cincinnati, Ohio. His evenings were spent in acquiring an education, and in time he acquired a fair literary education. At the age of twenty he became draughtsman of the Little Miami Railroad, having previously devoted a great deal of time and study to this profession. He filled the position credit- ably a number of years. In 1883 he accepted a similar position on the Ohio & Mississippi, and in July, 1885, was promoted to his present position, and is now filling the position very satisfac- torily. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Emma R. Marston, a native of Newport, Ky. To them were born seven children, six now living: Thomas W., Frederick William, Ida May, John W., Pearl, and J. Howard. Mr. Staff is a Democrat in politics, and
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took quite a part in the political affairs of his native city, being a member of the city council a number of years. He has been a Mason since 1873. He is an example of the self-made men of the country, as he started in life a poor boy with little or no capital, but untiring energy, study, and singular capability for his par- ticular calling in life, and has won golden opinions, not only from his employers, but by a large circle of friends, who know him only to respect his many excellent qualities.
EDWARD TAYLOR, A. M., superintendent of the city schools at Vincennes, Ind., was born at Wea Plains, six miles west of Lafayette, Ind., October 30, 1842. The father was Jo- seph N. Taylor, a native of Winchester, Va., born in 1813. The mother's maiden name was Phœbe Garretson, born in Spring- boro, Ohio, in 1816. Both parents are still living, and are mem- bers of the religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, as also is our subject. They were the parents of seven children. When our subject was seven years of age his parents removed to Mon- rovia, Ind., in order to secure better church and school facilities, and there he still resides. Subject attended school during the winter and farmed in the summer time until he was seventeen years of age. During his youth he was a member of various literary societies, and thereby acquired a liking for literary work. In 1860 he entered the Earlham College, at Richmond, Ind., and his time was spent between the duties of a student and in assist- ing his father, who had been chosen superintendent of the insti- tution. He graduated from the classical course in 1865. He then became a teacher of Latin and Greek at Spiceland Academy, Ind., and at the end of the year was elected principal of the academy. He resigned this position, however, in order to travel and study in Europe. He made the tour of the Continent, and spent a year in linguistic and historical studies in Berlin, Prus- sia, and during his absence sent weekly letters to the Richmond Telegram. Some months after his return he married Miss Louise Bales, daughter of John H. Bales, of Knightstown, Ind. They have two sons. He chose teaching as his occupation, and in 1868 was chosen superintendent of the city schools of Kokomo, Ind. In 1872 he removed to Iowa, where he was for several years principal of New Providence Academy, and during that time
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