USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana ; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 55
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In the year 1871 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Trueblood to Miss Sarah E. Snyder and they have two children, Dr. Charles True- blood, the elder of the two, is one of the representative physicians and surgeons of Colorado, and is engaged in the practice of his profession at Monte Vista, that state. He wedded Miss Lulu Free and they have no children ; Ferdinand Trueblood, the youngest son, is in business in Ches- terfield, where he is engaged in a general store. He married Miss Inez Smith and they have three children-Ronald, Harry and Charles.
WALTER ISANOGEL. Special interest attaches to the career of this well known and highly esteemed citizen of Chesterfield, for he is a native of Madison county, a representative of one of its sterling pioneer families and has been prominently concerned with civic and business activities in the county which has ever been his home.
Mr. Isanogel was born on a farm in Union township, Madison county, Indiana, on the 3rd of January, 1863, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Goheen) Isanogel, whose names are prominently identified with the annals of Madison county, where they took up their abode in the pioneer epoch of the county's history. They became the parents of eleven chil- dren-John T., Solomon, William, and Isaac, who are deceased; Samuel E., who is a resident of Union township; Walter, who is the immediate subject of this review; Otto D., and Sarah, who are deceased, the latter having been the wife of John Coburn; Caroline, who is the wife of Stephen Fosnot, deceased; Estaline, deceased; and Mary B., who main- tains her home at Chesterfield. Jacob Isanogel, who accompanied his
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parents on their removal from Preble county, Ohio, to Madison county, Indiana, in the pioneer days, was a son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Su- man) Isanogel. His father, who was of stanch German lineage, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, and came to Madison county, Indiana, in the '50s. Under the administration of President Van Buren he here entered claim to eighty acres of government land, in Union town- ship, and he reclaimed the same to effective cultivation. He became one of the substantial pioneer farmers of this favored section of the state and his old homestead is still owned by representatives of the imme- diate family, whose name has been most worthily linked with the civic and industrial development and upbuilding of the county. Jacob Isanogel was long numbered among the representative agriculturists and stock growers of Madison county, commanded inviolable place in popular confidence and esteem, and made his life count for good in its every relation. Both he and his wife continued to reside on the old homestead farm, one and one-half miles northeast of Chesterfield, until they were summoned to eternal rest.
He whose names initiates this review was reared to the sturdy disci- pline of the home farm and gained his preliminary education in the dis- trict schools. Later he availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of Chesterfield, and his ambition was further shown by his becoming a student in the University of Indiana, at Bloomfield, and where he admirably fortified himself for the pedagogic profession, of which he was an able and popular representative for a number of years, as a successful teacher in the schools of his native county. He was prin- cipal of the Green Branch school and later of the school on Seventh street in the village of Chesterfield, where he held also the position of principal for a period of ten years. In Chesterfield he served as assistant post- master under the regime of Mr. Krettenbarger, and thereafter he had charge of the public schools of this village, his assumption of this im- portant position having been made in 1897. Thereafter he served for some time as deputy in the office of the county treasurer, after which he was again employed as an effective teacher in the district schools of the county. He engaged in the general merchandise business at Chester- field, where his personal popularity and the effective service given brought to him a large and representative patronage. He retired from this line of enterprise in 1910 and has since given his attention princi- pally to the management of his real estate and other property interests.
Mr. Isanogel is a man of broad and well fortified views concerning matters of public polity and has shown a lively interest in all that con- cerns the welfare of his native county and state. Liberal and progres- sive in his civic attitude, he has been a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Christian church in their home village, where he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, as well as with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America.
On the 4th of July, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Isanogel to Miss Minnie Bronnenberg, daughter of Ransom Bronnenberg, con- cerning whom specific mention is made on other pages of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Isanogel have four children-Velma, Helen, Robert E., and Olga E. Velma married Edgar Click of Anderson township, a farmer; Helen is teaching at Ingalls, she attended the University of
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Indiana. The two younger children are attending the public schools of their home village.
SENECA CHAMBERS. Madison county is essentially an agricultural community, and is noted no less for the excellence of its farms than for the public spirit and enterprise of the agriculturists who till them. One of these successful farmers, a resident of the county for more than half a century, and still engaged in active pursuits, is Seneca Chambers, the owner of sixty-three acres of excellent land located on the Alexandria pike. in Richland township. Mr. Chambers was born on the farm which he now occupies, February 24, 1861, and is a son of John H. and Julia A. (Drybread) Chambers. The family is an old and honored one of this section, having been founded in Madison county by the grandfather of Mr. Chambers. There were five children in the family of Mr. Chamber's parents : William, who is deceased; Sarah, who is the wife of Mr. Eshel- man; Joseph, deceased; Seneca, and Clarissa, who is deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chambers were members of the Christian church.
The childhood home of Seneca Chambers was a little log house, which had been erected by his father some years prior to his birth, and he was reared amid pioneer surroundings. As was expected of all Indiana farmers' sons of his day, he began to assist his father and brothers in clearing the home place as soon as he was able to do his share, his educa- tional advantages being secured in the short winter terms in the district schools of Richland township and College Corners. Reared thus to agri- cultural pursuits, it was but natural that he should adopt farming as a vocation upon reaching years of maturity, and his subsequent success in his calling is ample evidence that he made no mistake in his choice. His operations, commenced in a modest manner, have assumed large propor tions, and he now occupies a substantial and firmly-established place among the agriculturists of his community, where he is known as a skilled and intelligent farmer and excellent judge of cattle. Mr. Chambers has used modern methods exclusively, taking advantage of the various dis- coveries and inventions which have made farming assume a position on a par with the professions, and showing good business judgment in dis- posing of his products and cattle, which have always brought top-notch prices in the markets. His comfortable home, situated on Anderson Route No. 1, is surrounded by buildings of handsome architectural design and substantial character, and the whole appearance of the property denotes the presence of prosperity, thrift and able management.
Mr. Chambers was married to Miss Callie Burke, now deceased, who was a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Mahoney) Burke, old and prominent settlers of Madison county who are now deceased. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, namely: Clara, who is deceased; Ward, who married Millie Scott and resides in Richland township; and Earl, who married Ethel Scott, and has two children- Mildred and Calvin.
Mr. Chambers attained distinction as a member of the famous Federal jury chosen on the noted Los Angeles Times dynamite case, which opened October 1, 1912, before Federal Judge A. B. Anderson, in Indianapolis, when forty-six men, most of them union labor officials and agents, were placed on trial on the charge of complicity in more than 100 dynamite explosions, including that which destroyed the Los Angeles Times build- ing. Of these two pleaded guilty, the charges against three were dis- missed at the opening of the trial, and thirty-eight were given various
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sentences in the Federal prison, although some of the latter have since been released on bail. This has been Mr. Chambers' only public service, as he has not sought preferment in public or political life, preferring to devote his whole attention to his home and his farm. He has been a life-long member of the Christian church, and has been liberal in his support of its movements.
CURRAN .("JACK") BEALL. Modern agriculture holds out many in- ducements to the industrious, progressive worker, especially when he has been trained to farming from boyhood. It is natural for such a man to capably perform the duties pertaining to this class of work, and, hav- ing had wide experience, he is able to recognize and appreciate the various advantages offered by new methods. Again, having passed through instructive experiences, he is not to be easily deceived with relation to the true value of proposed innovations, nor is he apt to decline advantageous propositions. The demands of his neighborhood are known to him, and failure one season is not a discouraging factor, for the experienced agriculturist is aware than one lean year generally is followed by two prosperous ones, and that in the time of small erops is granted the opportunity to prepare for banner productions. For these and numerous other reasons, the lifetime farmer enjoys a marked ad- vantage in the race for agricultural supremacy. Experienced in farming operations since his boyhood, Curran ("Jack") Beall has become one of the leading agriculturists of Richland township, where he is the owner of 160 acres of excellent land, in addition to a valuable property in North Anderson. He was born on the farm which he now occupies, March 21, 1860, and is a son of Curran and Jennie (Gunder) Beall.
Curran Beall, the elder, was born on a farm near Centerville, Wayne county, Indiana, and was educated in his native locality, coming to Madi- son county about 1846 after attaining his majority and here settling in Richland township, where he spent the remaining active years of his life in successful farming operations. He was married here, and he and his wife became the parents of six sous, of whom two survive: Cur- ran; and Archibald, who married Laura Coburn and lias seven children -James, Fred, Arthur, Rosa, Garland, Brutus and Lilian.
"Jack" Beall was reared on the old homestead where he was born and received his early education in the schoolhouse which was located on the old Tappan farm in this locality, this training being supple- mented by attendance at the Mount Hope school in Anderson township. During his school period he assisted his father in the work of the home place, and until twenty-two years of age remained under the parental roof, at that time removing to a property of eighty acres some miles dis- tant in Lafayette township. After renting this land for a short period, he returned and rented a like property belonging to his father, but not long thereafter went to North Anderson, where he carried on teaming. Returning to agricultural pursuits, he operated his mother-in-law's farm for several years, subsequently located on another rented property, and at the time of his father's retirement from active life again returned to the homestead, of which he was made manager. Here he has intro- duced various innovations and made numerous improvements, both as to buildings and equipment. Trained in the old school of practicability, he has combined with this the ideas and methods of modern days, with the result that he has achieved material success and a firmly established position among the agricultural leaders of his community.
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MICHAEL STRIKER
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Mr. Beall was married August 20, 1882, to Miss Mary Belle Kinna- man, daughter of Henry and Frenie (Huntzinger) Kinniman. Mr. Kinnaman came to Madison county from Missouri and settled in Lafayette township where he was successfully engaged in farming up to the time of his death. He had three children: Mary Belle, who married Mr. Beall; Rose M., who married Mr. Parsons; and Gertrude, now Mrs. Carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Beall have two children: William Curran, who married Cora Vermillion, and has one child, Nondes; and Ora Madi- son, who married Olive Pence, and has one child, Durwood. Mr. and Mrs. Beall are consistent members of the Christian church, in the work of which they have shown a commendable interest. The family enjoys the privileges of membership in the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd'Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men, in both of which he has numerous friends. He is a Democrat in politics and has never held any public office.
MICHAEL STRIKER. When the Striker family first located in Ander- son much of what is now within the city limits was open country covered with hazel brush or wood, and Eight Street, now one of the busiest thoroughfares of the county seat, wound in and about the trees which still cumbered its course. Various members of the family have been well known in this city and county and Mr. Michael Striker was for a long number of years successful as a butcher and wholesale and retail dealer in meats, but is now living retired.
Michael Striker was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the fifteenth of October, 1850. His father was Adam Striker. Both he and his wife were natives of Baden, Germany, and one of the brothers of Adam came to America, but his settlement and his career from the time he landed have not been known to this branch of the family. Adam Striker was reared in Germany, attended school steadily during boyhood and then began an apprenticeship after the thorough German fashion to the stonemason's trade. His apprenticeship completed he married and with his bride set sail for America. The ship on which they took passage battled for three months with the waves before it landed them in New York City. From there they came to Cincinnati, where he was employed at various kinds of work for a time. When the Pan Handle Railroad, now one of the principal lines of the Pennsylvania System, was being constructed to Madison county, Adam Striker took employ- ment with the building contractor and assisted in felling the trees and clearing the right of way, and later helped to construct the road beds. In the woods not far from the present site of the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Anderson, he built a log shanty, which served as the first home of the Striker family in Anderson, and it was there that Michael Striker first lived and became acquainted with this vicinity. When the railroad had been built through this part of Indiana, Adam Striker re- mained in Anderson, and followed his trade during the seasons when there was work, and also eked out his income at various other kinds of work. He was an industrious man, was much esteemed by his fellow citizens, and continued a resident of Anderson until his death at the age of seventy-seven years. He had married in Germany Catherine Dittus, who died at the age of sixty-nine. They reared nine children, named Michael, John, Adam, Henry, Jacob, Robert, Charles, Ben. Frank and Catherine.
Michael Striker was only a child when the family came to Ander-
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son, and though the pioneer period in the strict sense had passed Mad- ison county was still sparsely populated, and as already stated a greater part of what is now the site of the city of Anderson was in the tim- ber and brush. Wild game was still quite plentiful in the surrounding soil and occasionally deer and wolves were heard and seen in the vicin- ity. Michael Striker was reared to habits of industry and thrift, and was a mere boy when he began contributing the results of his labor to the support of the family. When he was a boy, he was apprenticed to the butcher's trade with Joseph Shawhan, a well known local butcher of that time. During the first year he got no pay with the exception of an occasional piece of meat which he carried home to the family. During the second year his pay was three dollars a week, and at the age of eighteen he was a capable butcher, and during the winter was employed at the local packing house in dressing hogs, and being an expert in that line he earned five dollars a day, all of which he gave to his father. At the age of twenty, Mr. Striker was ready to start in business for himself. His capital was very limited, and he rented a shop and a slaughter house. For some time he had no horse nor vehicle to assist in the business. He bought a beeve from John Q. Gastin at the Omaha Switch, and a hog from another party, and having butchered those animals began business. He was successful from the start, and soon afterwards formed a partnership with Maurice Wallace, making the firm of Striker & Wallace. This continued for about three years before being dissolved, after which Mr. Striker continued alone and did a flourishing business up to 1910. In that year he turned over his large stock and interests to his son, and having acquired a handsome competency retired from business.
Mr. Striker in 1875 on the twenty-seventh of October married Miss Samantha Talmadge, who was born in Rush county, a daughter of William John and Priscilla (Highfield) Talmadge, a pioneer family of Rush county. Mr. and Mrs. Striker's children are Lafe, Clifford and Nellie. The son Lafe married Florence Zimmer, and has four children named Catherine, Lois, Mary J., and Martha.
WEEMS BRONNENBERG. Agricultural methods have changed very materially during the past several generations, and now that progression among the farmers has become a vital national issue there is every reason to suppose that still further advance will be made along all lines. Inter- urban service, the telephone and the automobile, with the consequent bettering of the roads on account of the increased popularity of the last- named, have brought the farmers much closer together and have placed them in close touch with the centers of activity, and the man today who devotes himself to the cultivation of the soil finds himself more inde- pendent than any other worker in the world. Among the progressive, public-spirited citizens of Richland township is found Weems Bronnen- berg, the owner of 123 acres of fine land located on the Daleville road, a property that has been accumulated through years of persistent and well- directed effort. Mr. Bronnenberg was born on the old Bronnenberg homestead in Richland township, Madison county, Indiana, April 8, 1860, and is a son of Michael and Francone (Forkner) Bronnenberg, and a brother of Isaac B. Bronnenberg, a sketch of whose career appears in another part of this volume.
Weems Bronnenberg received his education in the public school at College Corners, and was reared on the old homestead, where he remained
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until twenty-three years of age. At that time he left the parental roof and embarked upon a career of his own, locating on an eighty-acre tract of land on the Daleville road, in Richland township. An industrious, persevering workman, thoroughly trained in agricultural methods, he has made a distinct success of his ventures, and as time has passed has added to his property by purchase, now having 123 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. This has been improved by handsome build- ings and modern equipment and machinery, and is considered one of the finest properties of its size in the township, its every detail giving evidence of the skill, thrift and good management of its owner. In addi- tion to general farming, Mr. Bronnenberg engages in stock raising, and his cattle are of high grade, demanding excellent prices in the local markets.
Mr. Bronnenberg was united in marriage with Miss Susan M. Cham- bers, daughter of George and Rebecca (Walters) Chambers, old resi- dents of Madison county who are now both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bronnenberg there have been born seven children: Pearl; Bessie, who is the wife of Walter Imil, of Richland township; George, who married Bertha Imil. also of this township; Chester; Claude; John and Ethel. The children have all been given good educational advantages and Claude has attended one term in the Anderson High School. The family home is located on Anderson Rural Route No. 4.
Mr. and Mrs. Bronnenberg are valued members of the Christian church, and have always taken an active part in its work and have numerous friends in its congregation. Mr. Bronnenberg is Republican in his political views, but votes independently and, while not a politician or seeker for public preferment, he has not been indifferent to the duties of good citizenship, and at all times has given his earnest support to able men and beneficial measures.
WILLIAM BUTLER BRONNENBERG. Success has amply attended the efforts of William Butler Bronnenberg, who has devoted himself with diligence and energy to the farming business all his life. Few men in this community have surpassed or equaled him in his accomplishments in the field of agriculture, and he is representative of the. best and most progressive class of farming men in the county and state today. Begin- ning with little or nothing, Mr. Bronnenberg is today the owner of some- thing like 250 acres of the most fertile land in the county, which yields him richly and repays him goodly measure of prosperity for every shred of energy expended upon it.
Born on August 25, 1853, on the farm of his parents in Union town- ship, William Butler Bronnenberg is the son of Henry and Mariah (Forkner) Bronnenberg, whose sketch appears elsewhere. As a boy at home, he attended the district schools of Union township, finishing his training in the Chesterfield schools. His father was a farmer, and the boy was early trained in the business for which he was destined. In young manhood he married and established a home of his own, Catherine Diltz becoming his bride. Two children were born to them,-Horace and Esther, both of whom are occupied with farming interests. The wife and mother died in young life, and in 1884 Mr. Bronnenberg mar- ried a second time, choosing Sallie Butler, of English descent, who by a previous marriage to William Manger had one child,-Emerson. The latter is married to Hazel Hancock, and has two sons,-Harold and Ralph. Sallie Butler Bronnenberg is the daughter of Jacob and Rachael
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(Porter) Butler, who were natives of southern Ohio, and who never left that state. The father of Jacob Butler was a native son of Germany, as were also the parents of his wife, Rachael Porter, and all were people of the most sterling worth, well esteemed wherever they were known, and valuable additions to the communities .wherein they located. To the second marriage of William Butler Bronnenberg one son was born,- Cecil Bronnenberg, now attending school at Anderson. Mr. Bronnen- berg is actively engaged in farming. He is a Democrat in his political belief, active and prominent in local politics, and fraternally has mem- bership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Spiritualists' Association of Chesterfield.
EMMOR WILLIAMS. Among the highly respected citizens of Madison county who have returned to agricultural pursuits after many years spent in other lines of endeavor, Emmor Williams, of Adams township, is a representative example. He has always been an industrious, ener- getic workman, making his own way in the world by well directed efforts, and has fairly earned the respect and esteem in which he is universally held. Mr. Williams was born on a farm in Fall Creek township, Madison county, Indiana, June 21, 1848, and is a son of Samuel F. and Arie A. (Rice) Williams.
Henry Williams, the grandfather of Emmor Williams, spent his entire life in Williamsburg, New York, which was named in his honor. There was born his son, Samuel F. Williams, who was reared in the Empire state, from whence he came to Henry county, Indiana, in 1829, and located near New Eden. He was married in Henry county, and came to Madison county in 1842, and after some preparation was ad- mitted to the bar in 1858. He continued to practice law throughout the remainder of his career, served as justice of the peace of Adams town- ship for twelve years, and died at New Columbus, Indiana, one of the well known and substantial men of his community. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Emmor is the only survivor.
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