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 91
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inspire confidence and win for him the patronage of his fellow towns- people and the business of which he is the leading spirit is making rapid strides in and about the community. Mr. Fenelon comes by his skill and talent for the business honestly, for his father before him was a granite and marble sculptor, and he reached a pleasing degree of promi- nence and prosperity in the marble business in Vermont between the years of 1871 and 1905.
Charles E. Fenelon was born in Barre, Vermont, on December 5, 1881, and is the son of Nicholas and Rose (Ross) Fenelon, both natives of France, but the mother being of Italian parentage. These parents were blessed with twelve children, of which number only six grew to mature years. They are: John, Anthony, Lonisa, Charles E., Angus- tus and William. The others died in childhood. All the living members of this family are skilled musicians, most of them professionals and holding high places in the musical world. The father was a granite and marble sculptor of exceeding great skill, and he came to America in 1871, as has already been mentioned, and located in Barre, Vermont, where he engaged in the marble business. He continued therein most successfully, reared his family and gave them excellent educations in their chosen profession, and in 1905 suffered the loss of the sight of one of his eyes. He soon after retired from business, and returned to France with his wife, and they are now residents of Marseilles, where they are spending their declining years in never-to-be-forgotten atmos- phere of Sunny France, their native land.
Charles E. Fenelon was reared in Barre, Vermont, and in common with others of his family, attended the public schools, and learned the granite and marble cutter's trade from his father, who felt that if he equipped his sons with a practical trade, they were free to follow what- ever profession they chose thereafter. Young Fenelon lived at home until he reached his majority, then took up the study of music, for which he possessed a natural and unusual talent, as did all the others. of the family, and after some training, began to travel with his brothers and sisters, and they visited practically every city of note in the United States. He gave up the life of the road in 1909, engaging in the music business in Indianapolis and there continuing up to January, 1912, when he came to Elwood and here established himself in the business in which his father had trained him. The Elwood Monumental Works, located at 1421 South A street, is the result of his efforts, and is one of the most up-to-date and complete establishments of its kind in this section of the state. As a result of the thorough training Mr. Fenelon received in his father's workshop, he is one of the best marble and granite workmen in the business, and in his more busy seasons he employs a number of skilled workmen about the plant. As an artistic designer and sculptor, he would look long to find his superior, and the designing of monuments and markers is safely left to his skill and judgment by those who want the best. He carries a fine stock of marble and granite monuments, both foreign and domestic, and in the brief time that he has been established here has come to be recognized as one to be reckoned with when matters of that order are up for consideration.
On December 23d, 1905, Mr. Fenelon was married to Miss Ada Ross, the daughter of Charles and Adaline Bianchi. Two children were born to them, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Fenelon was born in Connecticut, as were her parents, who are now residents of New
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Henry Bronnenberg
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Bedford, Massachusetts. She was one of three children, the others being John and Harry.
Mr. and Mrs. Fenelon are members of the Lutheran church of Elwood, and he is fraternally associated with Lodge No. 230, A. F. & A. M., and Elwood Chapter No. 109, Royal Arch Masons. Ile still keeps up his interest in musie and is a member of the Indianapolis Society of Musicians, and musical director of the Elwood Military Band.
HENRY BRONNENBERG. It is by no means an empty distinction to have lived actively and usefully in any community for a period of nearly ninety years. At this writing the venerable Henry Bronnenberg of Chesterfield has passed his eighty-ninth birthday. He was born in Madi- son county, at a date so early that his life had its beginning at the same time with civilization in this part of the state. Mr. Bronnenberg is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of Madison county's pioneer eitizens, and without question is the oldest native son. He has been both a witness and an actor in the changing developments of a long time, covering the entire history of Madison county, so far as the work of white men is concerned. He is a pioneer, has been successful in his work and business, and is still a hale and hearty man, enjoying the highest esteem of a large community.
When he was quite young there were several tribes of Indians still inhabiting Madison and Delaware counties, in fact he saw the last tribe leave this part of the state, the squaws and pappoose on ponies and the chiefs on foot. In the early times this country abounded with sueh game as deer, wild turkeys, raccoon, squirrels, with many other species of smaller game and the rivers abounded with many kinds of fish, so he has lived to see this county grow and develop from a wilderness to a great and prosperous country. In fact all the old settlers that first located in this county and cleared the forest have passed away.
Henry Bronnenberg was born in Union township, Madison county, Indiana, September 4, 1824. At that time, it is of interest to note, Indiana had been a state only eight years, and the capital had not yet been estab- lished at Indianapolis. Practically all of northern Indiana above the White River was one unbroken wilderness, and the Bronnenberg family was one of the first to penetrate the wilds of this part of the state. Ilis parents were Frederiek and Barbara (Oaster) Bronnenberg, natives of Germany. His father came to the United States when about sixteen years old, settled in Pennsylvania, and from there moved to Madison county, about the year 1820. Madison county of course at that date did not exist by name, and he was here at the organization of civil government in this locality. He followed the work of a pioneer farmer, and died in this county when seventy-eight years old. Of the eleven children eight grew to maturity and Henry is now the last and only survivor.
Mr. Henry Bronnenberg is one of the men who were produced by the pioneer system of training. By reference to the chapter on education in this history, it will be noted that the only schools existing while he was growing up were the so-called subscription schools, supported by a eom- munity for the benefit of the children and usually only a few weeks in each year. Mr. Bronnenberg attended such a sehool, conducted in a log cabin, and his recollection embraees sueh erude instruments as the old- fashioned quill pen, the rough slab benches on which the seholars spent the dreary hours of school time, a building heated with a fireplace, lighted through a window which was merely a hole in the wall, covered with greased paper, and the instruction was confined to the rudimentary
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three R's. With all that primitive training he acquired that practical industry, which combined with his keen business sense.and energy enabled him to succeed much above the ordinary.
Mr. Bronnenberg has long been known as one of Madison county's successful men. At one time he owned more than fifteen hundred acres of land, and gave to each of his children a valuable farm. He is a well preserved man for his years, has good hearing and eyesight, and is prop- erly termed one of the grand old men of the community in which he has spent his life.
In 1847 Mr. Bronnenberg married Miss Mariah Forkner. Eight chil- dren were born to this wife. After her death he married Hannah Perkins, who died in 1910. Mr. Bronnenberg for his third wife married Mrs. Ophelia (Crouch) Borders. She was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Absalom Crouch, a native of Garrard county, Kentucky.
In politics Mr. Bronnenberg is a Democrat, and has a remarkable record as a voter. His first ballot was cast nearly seventy years ago for James Polk, and he has never missed a presidential election since that time, having voted for the entire list of Democratic presidential candi- dates down to the last. With business success he has likewise been honored with public esteem, and served as trustee of his township for twenty-three years, and was a county commissioner for six years. Mr. Bronnenberg has long been one of the leaders in the Spiritualist church in Madison county, and at one time served as treasurer of the Chesterfield Association of spiritualists. Fraternally he has been a Mason since he was twenty- three years old.
DR. WILLIAM H. HOPPENRATH. Twenty years of medical practice in the town in which he was born is the record of Dr. Hoppenrath, and his reputation is one of distinctive order among members of the profession in this district today. He was born in Elwood, on September 21, 1870, and is the son of Frank and Eva (Faucett) Hoppenrath, natives of Hamburg, Germany, and Ohio, respectively.
The father of Dr. Hoppenrath was five years old when he came to America's shores from his native land with his parents in 1853. He was the son of William and Mary (Brandt) Hoppenrath, both natives of Germany, and the father was a shoemaker by trade. He carried on a business in Elwood for a number of years, and finally took up his abode on the home farm of his son, Frank, dying there when he was seventy- two years old, and his widow following soon after when she was in her seventy-fourth year. They had four children: Frank and Charlotte reached years of maturity, but two others died on shipboard of measles while the family was en route to America, and were buried at sea.
Frank Hoppenrath was reared in Indiana in various towns that rep- resented the family home while he was growing up. They first lived in Middletown, and later were settled near Frankton, finally settling on a farm near Elwood. While in his 'teens he worked with his father in the shoemaking business but when he came to years of maturity and respon- sibility he bought a farm in the vicinity of Elwood and devoted himself to the farming industry with a will, gaining prosperity and success in the enterprise. In later life he settled on a fine place some three miles north of Elwood, and there he died in 1892, still young in years, being not more than forty-five years old when death claimed hi 1. His wife preceded him in death in 1886, when she was thirty-five years old. They had four children, as follows : Mary Catherine, who died, was the
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wife of Geo. Spiegel; Dr. William H., of this review; Charles E., a resi- dent of Moose Jaw, Canada; and Frank Otis, of Pueblo, Colorado.
The maternal grandparents of Dr. Hoppenrath were Charles and Kate (Hawk) Faucett, early settlers in Madison county, Indiana. He was a farmer, and died in Elwood in 1903, when he was eighty-four years of age. His wife died in Illinois when she had attained a fine old age. They reared a goodly family, among which were Harvey S., Jos- eph, Eva, James, Clinton, and Lewis.
Returning to Dr. Hoppenrath, who is the immediate subject of this review, it may he said that he was reared on the farm of his father, and his schooling in boyhood came to him through the avenues of the dis- trict schools. He was ambitious and studious as a boy, and his parents early recognized his fitness for a professional training, and when he had finished with the local schools sent him to the Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., for two years, after which he was engaged in school teaching for another two years. He was in no wise content to continue as a pedagog, however, and his savings in those two years made it pos- sible for him to undertake his professional studies independent of his family. He entered Detroit Medical College and was duly graduated from that well known institution in 1893, receiving at that time his degree of M. D., and he at once began the practice of medicine in his home town, where he has continued ever since, twenty years having elapsed since he came forth as a newly fledged Doctor of Medicine. It is sufficient to say that his success has at all times warranted him in con- tinuing in his home community, and he stands high in professional and other circles.
Dr. Hoppenrath is a member of the County and State Medical Societies and of the American Medical Association, and in addition to his large private practice is surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad in this district.
On the 15th day of October, 1892, Dr. Hoppenrath was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Chalfant, a daughter of Wesley and Eliza- beth (Smith) Chalfant. She was born on a farm near Elwood, where her parents long made their home, and was their only child. Wesley Chalfant was a veteran of the Civil war, serving four years as a private, and was a highly esteemed citizen of Elwood,and vicinity all his life.
Dr. and Mrs. Hoppenrath have one son, Wesley Merle Hoppenrath.
Mrs. Hoppenrath is a member of the Presbyterian church of Elwood, and the Doctor has no churchly affiliations as an active member, but he is fraternally associated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
FRANCIS M. HARBIT. Few citizens of Madison county have been more intimately connected with the financial, business and public interests of Madison county than has Francis M. Harbit, who for a half. a century has made his influence felt in every walk of life in Elwood. Able busi- ness man, shrewd banker and progressive farmer, he was not content to consider his duty to his community discharged with the casting of his vote and the voicing of his public-spirited sentiments, but entered actively into the lists, gained a high place in the confidence of the people, and served Elwood faithfully and well during a period when this city was in need of strong, courageous men to further its progress. Although he has reached the age when many men would consider themselves entitled to a rest from their labors, he continues to be an influential.
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factor in civic affairs, and as president of the Elwood Trust Company, belongs to that class of financiers to whom the people look for guidance, counsel and leadership. Mr. Harbit was born in Hamilton county, Indiana, August 24, 1843, and is a son of Isaac and Wincy (Brown) Harbit.
Henry Harbit, the paternal grandfather of Francis M. Harbit, was a native of Kentucky, where he married Nancy Groover, and they subse- quently became early settlers of Indiana, locating first in Rush county, and moving to Tipton county in 1838. Later Mr. Harbit entered land from the government, a good part of his farm now including the pres- ent town of Elwood, and the remainder of his life was passed in clearing and developing his land and making a home for his family. The children of Henry and Nancy (Groover) Harbit were: Isaac, James, Samuel, William, George, John, Andrew and Nancy. The maternal grandfather of Francis M. Harbit was Zimri Brown, whose wife was Jane Dollar- hide, both natives of Kentucky, and like the Harbits farming people and early pioneers of the Hoosier State. Mr. Brown, who was one of the first commissioners of Tipton county, died there advanced in years and highly esteemed by his community. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown, namely : Wincy, Malcy, Jency, Mary A., Sophia, and John R., the last named of whom died in the Soldiers' Home, in Kansas. Isaac Harbit was born in Kentucky, and was a child when brought to Indiana, here securing his education and early engaging in agricultural pursuits. He went to Missouri, in 1869, and died there, in the town of Paris, in 1878, at the age of sixty-eight years, his wife surviving him until 1884, and also being sixty-eight years old at the time of her demise. He was a Universalist in his religious views, and she a Meth- odist. Mr. Harbit was well known in both Indiana and Missouri, and at various times was elected to township offices by his fellow-citizens. He and his wife, who was a native of North Carolina, had ten children, as follows: Henry Z., residing in Tipton county, Indiana; Francis M .; Marcus, living in Iowa; Zadock, a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana; Willard, of Iowa; Andrew J., and John, deceased; Nancy, the wife of William Donaldson, of Paris, Missouri; Anna, who married LeRoy Dye, of Nevada, Missouri; and Etta, the wife of James Walker, of Paris, Missouri.
Francis M. Harbit grew to manhood in Tipton and Hamilton coun- ties, and came to Elwood in 1864, here securing his employment in the first grain elevator built in the city, which was owned by a Mr. Barton. Subsequently he embarked in farming, on a tract of land located about five miles from Elwood, but after a short period returned to the city and embarked in a general hardware business. He served as post- master at Elwood, New Lancaster and Jackson, became township trustee, was made city councilman, a position he held for many terms, and finally was elected mayor of Elwood, and continued to hold that office for four years. During this time numerous improvements of a sub- stantial and beneficial character were made, and the new city buildings were erected. Mr. Harbit proved a popular and conscientious chief executive and the clean, sane and business-like administration which he gave his fellow-citizens gained him many friends in all parties; after serving people practically all his life he is proud of his record as a public servant. Mr. Harbit although having served as mayor was again forced to run and was elected in 1913. He had refused several times, but popular opinion being that he was the one man for the reform party,
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having so well governed the city during his last election, that he was finally prevailed upon to take the office for another term, feeling that it was his duty to do so. He encouraged the establishing of various indus- tries in the city, was a stockholder in the first tin plate works that located here, and has long been largely interested in real estate. In 1897, with H. D. Harmon, he organized the Elwood Trust Company, of which he has been president to the present time.
On March 16, 1866, Mr. Harbit was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Judy, who was born in Darke county, Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Ross) Judy, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Judy, who were early settlers of Indiana, had three children: David, Henry and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Harbit had six children : Effie, Prony, Nona, Charles F., Arley' and Cecil, the last-named of whom is now deceased. Effie married Archie Dunlop, and has four daughters. Prony, a farmer in Duck Creek township, married Ottie Davis, and has two children-Francis Julian and Lewis. Nona lives in Seattle, Washington. Charles F., a farmer of Hamilton county, Indiana, married Osie Shaw, and has a daughter-Catherine. Arley, who is superintendent for the Andrews Asphalt Paving Company, at Hamilton, Ohio, married A'da Shepley, and they have one daughter-Elizabeth Ann.
WILLIAM LEVI ABBOTT. With great pleasure we present to our read- ers a brief record of the life of this gentleman, satisfied that a study of his character as a successful man of business will not be without interest or advantage, especially to the young man just entering the busy arena of commerce. William Levi Abbott, proprietor of the Abbott Milling Company, at Elwood, was born at Sulphur Springs, Henry county, Indiana, March 22, 1873, and is a son of George W. and Rebecca Ann (Fesler) Abbott.
The paternal grandifather of Mr. Abbott, George Abbott, and his wife, were early settlers of Indiana, whence they came from Virginia, the family having originated in England. They died in Henry county in advanced years, having been the parents of George W., John, Sarah, Mary, William and Mrs. Newcomer. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Abbott, David Fesler, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was also an early Indiana settler, locating in Madison county, and here he passed away when eighty-two years of age, his wife dying at the age of sev- enty-nine. They had a family of five children: John, Rebecca Ann, Benjamin, William and Catherine, who died soon after her marriage. George W. Abbott was reared in Indiana and here learned the trade of blacksmith, at which he worked for a time at Sulphur Springs. Subse- quently, however, he turned his attention to farming, near New Harmony, Illinois, but in 1885 came to Elwood and established himself in the mill- ing business. In this he continued until his death, being in partnership with William L. and others of his sons at different times. His death occurred in Elwood, in 1910, when he was seventy-three years of age, while his widow, a native of Indiana, survives him and still lives in Elwood, where she is well known to the members of the Christian church. They were the parents of nine children, of whom seven lived to maturity : Mary, the wife of Robert Little, who resides near Frankton, Indiana ; Melissa, who married Daniel Little and lives near Florida, Indiana; Daniel L., whose home is in Anderson: Belle, who became the wife of Reuben Silvey, and lives at Elwood; Charles E., who makes his home .
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at Crown Point, Indiana; William L., of this review; Clarence E., of Elwood ; and two who died when young.
William Levi Abbott lived in Henry county until he was six years old, at which time he accompanied his father to Illinois, and there lived four years, during this time attending the public school. When ten years of age the family came to Madison county, and this has been his home ever since. Ou completing his preliminary educational training, he entered Purdue University, where he spent two terms, studying elec- trical and mechanical engineering. He subsequently learned the trade of machinist, a vocation which he followed for a period of six years, then entering the business of his father, of which he is now sole proprietor. He does custom grinding, meal, feed, etc., and also handles flour. His trade has enjoyed a healthy and gratifying increase, and his position in the business world is established beyond question. He has shown an interest in fraternal work, and now belongs to Quiney Lodge No. 200, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in all of which he has a wide circle of warm friends. A Republican in politics, he has been one of the wheel-horses of his party in this section, and has been honored by election to the office of alderman for two terms. Mr. Abbott is an expert automobile mechanic and is the sole representative for the Ford car for Pipe Creek and Duck Creek townships, also half of one township in Tipton county and half of one township in Boone county.
On October 5, 1899, Mr. Abbott was married to Miss Ida F. Myerly, daughter of John Henry Myerly. She was born in Madison county, Indiana, south of the city of Elwood, was here reared and educated and has spent her entire life. Like her husband, she has drawn about her numerous admiring friends and is a general favorite socially.
FRANK E. DEHORITY. The general commercial enterprise of Elwood has benefited from the impetus and sustained efforts of three generations of the DeHority family, which is one of the oldest and best known names in this section of Madison county. Mr. F. E. DeHority has spent his active career in the insurance business, and now has a successful busi- ness with offices in the DeHority-Heck Block in Elwood.
Frank E. DeHority was born in Elwood, January 15, 1875. His paternal grandfather, James M. DeHority, came from Delaware, and his wife from one of the southern states, and he became one of the pio- neer settlers of Perkinsville, Indiana, and subsequently was one of the early residents at Elwood. For a number of years he was in the grain and general merchandise business, but his regular profession was that of physician, and he is well remembered as a kindly and skillful old doctor who was the friend and adviser to many families in this neigh- borhood. He was also a minister of the gospel. He and his wife both attained good old age, and of their children two reached maturity, J. H. and John W.
The parents of Mr. F. E. DeHority were John W. and Jane ( Moore) DeHority. The grandparents on the mother's side were Thomas and Susan Moore, who were also among the pioneers of Madison county, hav- ing arrived here when the Indians still made this their home. In the Moore family were the following children: John, Joseph, William, Letha, Julia, Thomas, Jane and Madison. Mr. John W. DeHority was reared in Madison county, and subsequently entered the general mer-
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