USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 49
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In politics Mr. Bronnenberg is a Democrat, and has a remarkable record as a voter. His first ballot was east 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 him. 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. IIe 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 be 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 eame 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 ouly 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 publie 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, Maley, 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 agricultura! 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 Tiptou county, Indiana; Francis M .; Marcus, living in Iowa; Zadock, a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana : Willard, of Iowa; Andrew J., and Johu, 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 couu- 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 truste .. 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 chie? 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 & public servant. Mr. Harbit although having served as mayor was again forced to run and was elected in 1913. He had refused several times. bu: 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 Ada 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 grandfather 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 hi, home ever since. On 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. Itis 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 war !: friends. A Republican in polities, he has been one of the wheel-hors 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 automobi !. 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 Mverly. 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 bis active career in the insurance business, and now has a successful bitsi- ness with offices in the DeHority-Heck Block in Elwood.
Frank E. DeHority was born in Elwood, January 15, 1875. His paternal grandfather, James MI. DeHority, came from Delaware, and! his wife from one of the southern states, and he became one of the pit. neer settlers of Perkinsville, Indiana, and subsequently was one of :1 . early residents at Elwood. For a number of years he was in the grain and general merchandise business, but his regular profession was tha: 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 hor !: attained good old age, and of their children two reached maturity. J. !!. 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 amd 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, Willia !!!. 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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chandise business at Elwood, with his father and with his brother, J. H., under the firmn name of J. M. DeHority & Sons. He was also owner of some farm lands, and continued in active and prosperous business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1881 when he was forty years of age. His wife is still living in Elwood. They were members of the Methodist-Protestant church. Of their eight children, four are now living, namely : William A., of Indianapolis; Charles C., of Elwood; Cora B., wife of Elma C. Heck, of Elwood and Frank E., of Elwood.
In his native town of Elwood, Mr. Frank E. DeHority attended the publie schools and besides the advantages of a comfortable home and good moral and intellectual environments for his youth, he was given special advantages in the way of schooling and spent three years as a student of Purdue University at LaFayette. He began his career as contractor, but most of his business attention has been given to insur- anee and farming. He now owns a farm of eighty acres in Duek Creek township and another in Lafayette township of the same acreage. For ten years Mr. Deflority served as secretary of the Fair Association and has always been public spirited and liberal in helping to promote the welfare of this community.
March 19, 1894, he married Miss Myrtle Clymer, a daughter of Royal H. Clymer. Mrs. DeHority was born in Elwood and both her parents are natives of this state. Mr. and Mrs. DeHority have one son, Robert. She is an active member of the Methodist church and his fraternal affil- iations are with Quiney Lodge No. 230, A. F. & A. M .; Elwood Chapter No. 109, R. A. M .; Anderson Commandery No. 32, K. T., and has taken thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite and is a member of the Indian- apolis Consistory. Mr. DeHority is also affiliated with the Elks Lodge, and is popular in all civic cireles. He is one of the prominent Demo- erats of Madison county, and for two years served as chairman of the Democratie Central Committee of Madison county.
MARSHALL A. HAWKES, proprietor of a plumbing, heating and tinning business, at No. 1451 South A. street, Elwood, has been a resident of this city since 1906, and is a gentleman well known to be intelligent, enter- prising and of good judgment in business affairs, so that he has been gen- erally successful in his undertakings. Mr. Hawkes is another example of the self-made men of which this country is so justly proud, for from boyhood his career has been one of industry and well-directed effort, and the position he now occupies as an honored and honorable man of affairs has been gained by no fortunate turn of circumstances, but rather as the well-merited reward of faithful endeavor. Mr. Hawkes was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, April 21, 1874, and is a son of Albert G. and Hester J. (Marshall) Hawkes.
Russell Hawkes, the paternal grandfather of Marshall A. Hawkes, was born in Maine, of English deseent, while his wife, Frances (Camp- bell) Hawkes, also a native of the Pine Tree state, was descended from Scotch ancestry. They were the parents of eight children : Ellen, Mary, Rebecca, Octavia, Albert G., Amelia, Benjamin and Nathaniel. Of these Benjamin met his death while serving as a soldier during the Civil war. in General Hooker's retreat. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Hawkes was John Marshall, who married Margaret Mackey, both being natives of New York. Mr. Marshall was a mechanie, and met his death in an accident in the gas works in which he worked in New York. He and his wife had five children : Mary, Martha, Jesse, Hester J. and Sidney.
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Albert G. Hawkes was born in the state of Maine, and there grew to manhood, learning the trade of pattern-maker, which he followed in Baltimore, Maryland, for a number of years. He later went to Chicago, where he spent thirteen years at his trade, subsequently removed to) Portage, Wisconsin, later returned to Chicago, and from that point went to Leesburg. On March 16, 1897, he came to Elwood, where he and his wife still reside, he being eighty-two years old, while she has reached her seventy-sixth year. They are faithful members of the Presbyterian church. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkes: Adeline Octavia, who became the wife of H. M. Baxter, of Leesburg, Indiana : Russell N., who is now deceased; and Marshall A., of this review.
Marshall A. Hawkes was still a small child when taken to Chicago by his parents, and there he received the greater part of his education, although he later attended also the public schools of Portage, Wiscon- sin. On the family's return to Chicago, he became a cash boy in one of the large department stores of that city, but after a short experience in that line turned his attention to the printing business, at which he worked for eight months. At the end of that period he began to learn the trade of plumber, with Thomas Conlin, of Chicago, and in 1894 left the Illinois metropolis and went to Leesburg, Indiana, which city was his home until his advent in Elwood, in 1906, at which time he established himself in his present business. He has a finely equipped store, fitted for expert work in plumbing, tinning, gas fitting, heating and heavy sheet- iron work and employs a number of skilled assistants, and his excellent workmanship and absolute reliability have gained him a large trade. This has been built up from a modest start, and it has been due to his good management, thorough knowledge of his calling, and ability to recognize the needs of his community, that he has prospered. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and at all times has manifested a coul- mendable desire to lend his aid and influence to whatever movements have promised to benefit Elwood or its people in any way.
Mr. Hawkes is a member of Quincy Lodge No. 230, F. & A. M .; Seneca Tribe No. 113, Improved Order of Red Men; Aerie No. 201. Fraternal Order of Eagles; and Lodge No. 166, Knights of Pythias. In the campaign of 1912 he gave his support to the new Progressive party, and has continued to aid its principles and candidates. He is unmar- ried.
W. A. FAUST. After a business career in the city of Elwood where he was connected with the clothing trade for a number of years, Mr. Faust has recently given up city life for agriculture, and is now numbered among the successful and progressive farmers in Pipe Creek township. He was a trustee of the township until he resigned, and now devotes all his time to the cultivation of the one hundred and fifty acres comprising his model country place. However, he and his family still keep their residence in Elwood, and occupy a comfortable home at 906 Sontil A street.
William A. Faust is a native of Indiana, born August 21, 1879, in Rush county, a son of William P. and Lucinda (Lee) Faust. William P. Faust, the father, came from Pennsylvania, and the mother was from Virginia, and belonged to the old Lee family which has produced so many famous characters in American history. When the father came to Indiana, he first located in Hamilton county, and spent his active years there as a farmer, and one of the influential local citizens. There
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were five children in the family, of whom William A., was the oldest, the others being Ray, Gilbert, Viola Overdorf, and Raymond. The mother of these children is still living and has her home in Elwood.
William A. Faust has spent practically all his career in Madison county, grew up among the boys of the county during the last two decades of the nineteenth century, and attended first the common schools and later graduated from the Elwood high school. While he was going to school he also worked on the home farm, and in that way had a thorough practical experience of agriculture in all its phases before he had reached manhood. For twelve years he was actively engaged in business as a clothier in Elwood. He finally gave up that line of effort and went out on his farm, which he now makes his busi- ness, and which he conducts in a very profitable manner.
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