USA > Indiana > Pike County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 54
USA > Indiana > Dubois County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 54
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MARTIN FRITCH. is a native of Germany, born November
22
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11, 1833, and is the elder of two children born to Charles and Mary A. (Hurst) Fritch. Our subject remained in his native country until he was nine years of age, when he and his people embarked for the United States, and came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they remained six weeks, and then came to this county and State, and settled a short distance from our subject's present place of abode. A few years subsequent to their coming here, the father died, and Martin took charge of the farm, where he has always remained. His English education is very limited, owing to the hard work he was obliged to do on the farm, and to the poor school advantages of his day. November 14, 1854, he was married, and became the father of nine children, eight now living: Andrew, Theresa, William, Henry, Mary, August, Jo- seph and Frank. They have been quite successful, and own 280 acres of well improved land. They are Catholics, and Mr. Fritch is a warm Democrat.
GEORGE FUHRMAN, a prominent citizen and Democrat of Dubois County, Ind., was born December 20, 1848. His par- ents, Simon and Elizabeth ( Mather) Fuhrman, were born in Ger- many, and immigrated to the United States at an early day, set- tling among the dense timber land of Dubois County. The father died when George was a small lad, and owing to the neces- sity of working for his mother, he received a limited education. He was married, April 13, 1873, to Margaret Sendelweck, and to their union four children were born, these three of whom are liv- ing: Maggie, John and Henry. Mr. Fuhrman is a Democrat in politics, an intelligent and enterprising citizen, and has always followed the life of a farmer, with good success, and now owns 260 acres of good land. He and wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and have liberally contributed from their means in the support of all laudable enterprises.
ANDREW GIESLER was born February 5, 1848, and is the eldest of four children born to Lorenz and Barbara Giesler, natives of Germany. The father came to the United States as early as 1845, and soon after located in this county and farmed until his death in 1871. The mother died in 1857. Andrew was raised on the farm and secured a fair English and German educa- tion. At the age of twenty-three he and Theresa Oestrich were joined in the holy bonds of matrimony. She died in 1881 and left four children: Mary C., Elizabeth C., John W. and Joseph J. In 1881 he married Theresa Goetz, his present wife. Mr. Giesler is a Democrat and he and wife are Catholics. He is considered an honest and successful farmer and esteemed by all as an ex- cellent citizen and neighbor.
JOHN GIESLER, a well to do young farmer of Bainbridge Township, was born in this county July 27, 1855, and is the
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vonngest child of Lorenz and Barbara ( Frans) Giesler (see sketch of Andrew Giesler ). John enjoyed the free and happy life of a farmer's boy and attended the district schools, alternating with work on the farm. At the age of seventeen years he left the "parental roof"' and worked two years as a farm hand and then in a brewery in Jasper, until he was twenty-five years old, when he purchased his present farm and began tilling the soil, meeting with good success, financially. He has ninety acres of land, forty- three of which are under good cultivation. November 12. 1575. he wedded Katherine Hochgesang, by whom he is the father of three children: William E., Tillie ( deceased ) and Leander. The family are Catholics, and he is a Demorat and bears the reputa- tion of being an industrious and enterprising young farmer.
JACOB GOSMANN, dealer in books, stationery, wall-paper. pictures, ete .. established his business in September, 1880, and carries a stock valued at $2,000 and does an annual business of 1.800. Mr. Gossman is a native of York. Pen., born February 16, 1834, and is the sixth in a family of fifteen children, born to Frederick and Mary A. ( Friedel ) Gossman. Our subjeet received a common school education, mostly obtained by elose application, without the aid of a teacher. He was engaged as a country mer- chant on the State road between Gettysburg and Hanover, and during the war both rebel and Union forces passed his place of business, taking almost his entire stock. In 1864 he started for Indiana, and reached Dubois County April 15, of the same year. The following fall he began teaching and followed that occupation nine years, and saved enough money, meanwhile, to again embark in the mercantile business, at which he has had the best of suc- cess. May 13. 1536, he married Susan Neuhausel, who bore him six children, only one of whom is living, Francis Xavier. February 11. 1879, his wife died. and October 14, 1580, he married Caro- line Seger. They are the parents of two children: Annie Mary. born July 28, 1881, and Helen Manie, born August 1, 1853. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Democrat and served three years as deputy county clerk, and is treasurer of the Buikling Loan Fund and Saving Association.
PETER J. GOSMANN, clerk of Dubois County, Ind., was born in Pennsylvania. July 27, 1843, son of Frederick and Mary Ann ( Friesdl), natives of Germany. They came to the United States about 1835, and located in Pennsylvania, where the father practiced medicine until 1864, when he came to Dubois County, Ind., and practiced his profession until his death, in 1870. Peter was raised in Germany, and at the age of fifteen, learned the cigar-maker's trade, which he followed four years. Later, he fol- lowed these various occupations: clerking, teamster and suttler's clerk in the army, farming, and later, obtained a position in the
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
commissary department of the Government. He lived for some time in Philadelphia, and, in 1866, came to Dubois County, and worked at teaming and merchandising with a brother for four years. He taught school three winters, and, in 1871, engaged in merchandising for himself, in Marion Township. In 1873, he en- gaged in the same business in Celestine, remaining there until 1877, when he came to Jasper, and entered upon his duties as clerk. He served four years, and was re-elected in 1880. May 23, 1871, he married Anna M. Segers. They are the parents of seven children, one son deceased. He and family are members of the Catholic Church.
JOHN GRAMELSPACHER & CO., proprietors of the Jasper Planing-mills, and wholesale and retail dealers in rough and dressed lumber, established their business in 1871 on à much smaller scale, having invested about $5,000, and doing an an- nual business of about $8,000. They now have about $25,000 invested, and will do this year (1885) about $60,000. John Gramelspacher, senior member of the firm, and native of Jasper, Ind., was born December 15, 1845, son of Joseph and Sophia (Freidman) Gramelspacher, natives of Germany, who came to this State in 1837, where the father died October 17, 1853. When John was twelve years of age, he went to Owensboro, Ky., where he remained until the breaking out of the war, and then enlisted in the Confederate army, remaining with them sixteen months, when he deserted, and joined the Union forces, enlisting in Company E, Second Battalion, Fifteenth United States In- fantry. He served three years, and was in the battles of Bridge- port, Ala., Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Buzzard's Roost, Kene- saw Mountain, and numerous others. After his final discharge he engaged in the retail drug business in Jasper, Ind., which he continued two years. Until 1871 he was engaged in divers oc- cupations, when he embarked in his present business. Septem- ber 11, 1866, he married Franziska Dupps, who bore him four children, three of whom are living: George, Anna and Gustave A. Mr. Gramelspacher is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Ireland, Ind. He is a Democrat, but very liberal in his views. He is very successful in business undertakings, and is much re- spected throughout the community.
BAZIL L. GREENE, clerk of Dubois County, Ind., was born October 1, 1851, son of James and Nancy (Edmonston) Greene, natives of Indiana. The father was a farmer by occu- pation. His death occurred in 1853. The mother afterward married Henry Weathers, by whom she bore three children, one now living. Bazil L., was raised by his grandsire, Bazil B. Edmonston, receiving a fair literary education, and attended the State University at Bloomington, Ind., two years. At the age of
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seventeen he began teaching the "young idea;" continuing at this four years. When twenty-two, he accepted the position as deputy clerk, under his grandfather Edmonston, remaining with him five or six years-and some time after was deputy clerk un- der Gossman. In 1882 he was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, from Dubois and Martin Counties. Since that time he has been engaged in general insurance in Jasper, un- til 1884, when he was elected to his present office, which he is filling very creditably, He has served as town clerk from 1874 to 1883. August 6, 1876, he married Theresa H. Pfaff. They have two children living: Jesse B. and Bessie. Mr. Greene is a Democrat in politics, and a Mason. His wife is a member of the Catholic Church.
HABIG & ECKSTEIN are proprietors of the Jasper brew- ery, which was established by Andrew Hochgesang, and from whose widow they purchased it in 1884. They manufacture about 1800 barrels of liquor annually. Anton Habig, senior member of the firm, and native of Dubois County, Ind., was born October 27, 1844, son of Anton and Sabina (Denhauser) Habig, natives of Germany, who came to this country at a very early date. Our subject was reared on a farm, where he remained and assisted his parents until he was twenty years old. He received a limited education in consequence of the poor facilities of that day. In 1864, he came to Jasper and began running a peddling wagon between that place and New Albany. Three years later, he began driving a beer wagon, and gradually worked upward until he became one of the proprietors of the brewery. May 17, 1870, he married Fronia Schitter. To their union five children were born: Edward, Josephine, Frank, Helena and Caroline. Mr. Habig has been very successful in business, and he and his family are members of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a Demo crat.
BENJAMIN F. HARNED was born in Orange County, Ind., October 9, 1844. His parents, Charles and Lucinda (Stallcup) Harned, were natives of Virginia and Indiana, respectively. They removed from Orange to Dubois County in 1847, and settled on a farm. Benjamin F. passed his boyhood days on the farm, living with his parents until his mother's death, which occurred in 1854. He then worked for different parties until 1862, when he enlisted in his country's cause as volunteer private in Company K, Sixty- fifth Indiana Regiment, and served faithfully for three years. He fought bravely in the following important engagements: Siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Resaca and Dalton, Ga. and Cedar Creek, and was with Sherman, on his famous march to the sea. Septem- ber 2, 1866, Polly, daughter of Thomas Hopkins, became his wife, and to them seven children have been born: Thomas,
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Emory, Flora, Dora, Belle, Gracie L. and Mirnena. In politics. Mr. Harned is a warm adherent of the Republican party, and has taken an active interest in the political affairs of the day. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Ireland Lodge No. 388, and is a highly successful farmer, owning 100 acres of good land.
NENIAN HASKINS, recorder of Dubois County, Ind .. and na- tive of the county, was born February 5, 1844, is one of a family of eleven children born to William and Mary ( Russell ) Haskins, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively. William came to Indiana with his father about 1812; they settled in Craw- ford County, where the father died. William was raised and married in that county, in 1831 or 1832 came to Dubois County. and settled on a farm near Knoxville, where he farmed ten years; he afterward located on a farm in Bainbridge Township, where he remained twenty-six years; he now resides on a farm in Jefferson Township. Our subject passed his boyhood on the farm aud received a limited education in the primitive schools of his boyhood days; at the age of nineteen years he began farming and made that his exclusive occupation until 1872, when he engaged in the cattle and butchering business, continuing in that capacity four years: he was United States mail carrier bo- tween Jasper and Petersburg for four years, and then engaged in buying cattle and wool; he is an unswerving Democrat, in polities, and in 1882 was elected to the office of recorder, which he is filling ably and well; he was justice of the peace from 1870 to 1878, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., and he and wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. October 12, 1863, he married Sarah Hopkins, a native of the county. They are the parents of six children: Florence, Fran- ces, Sarah A., Felix, Edgar and Ida. Mr. Haskins is an example of the self-made man; he started in life with little or no capital, but by untiring energy and economy has succeeded in obtaining a good competency.
CLEMENS HENKEY is a native of Dubois County, Ind., born September 20, 1847, and is a son of Bernhard and Agnes (Bulles ) Henkey. The father came from Germany to the United States about 1840 and settled near Dayton, Ohio, where he fol- lowed the watch-maker's trade; later he came to this county and purchased a farm in Marion Township, where he remained until 1880, when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he now re- sides, in his eighty-fifth year; he is living with his fourth wife, the first three having died, and has been the father of twenty-six children by the four wives. Clement was raised a farmer, se- cured a fair education in youth, and when twenty-seven years old married Margaret Guender, and settled on his present farm of seven- ty acres; he is the father of four children: Elizabeth, John, Mary
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and Theresa; he is a Democrat in politics, and an upright, indus- trious citizen, whom to know is to respect and esteem.
TOBIAS HERBIG, retail liquor dealer of Jasper, Ind., was born in Germany, April 12, 1832; son of John and Kathrina (Schneider) Herbig; in 1835 they started for the United States, and landed at New York, and came to this State after a three months' stay in Wheeling, W. Va. Six weeks after their arrival, Mr. Herbig was killed by a falling tree, which left the family without a protector. Tobias remained at home until he was eighteen years old; in his boyhood days schoolhouses were few and far between and the roads leading to them were through a wilderness of woods. Notwithstanding these drawbacks he re- ceived a fair education ; he learned the wagon-maker's trade with Sebastian Kueble, and then established a shop for himself which he continued until 1868. February 14, 1854, he married Mary Lampert. They became the parents of eleven children, only two now living: Elizabeth and Joseph. In 1861 Mr. Herbig en- gaged in his present business. He owns the property on which the Pike White Sulphur Springs are situated, ten miles southwest of Jasper, on which he is building a large hotel, and intends making everything pleasant for invalids visiting the springs. The waters are strongly impregnated with mineral properties and are said to have effected some wonderful cures. Mr. Herbig is a member of the Catholic Church, is a Democrat, and has held a number of county offices.
MICHAEL HOCHGESANG was born in Bavaria September 26, 1832, and is the youngest of eight children born to Andrew and Matilda ( Benkert ) Hochgesang. In 1848 they started for the United States, aud on the voyage the mother was taken ill and died and was buried in the ocean while en route. The father came with his children to Indiana and located a few miles from Jasper, where he lived six years and then lived with his son-in- law, Adam Smith, until he died in 1870. Michael remained hard at work on the farm until he was twenty years old, when he went to Louisville, Ky., and learned the bricklayer's trade. A year later he returned to this county and worked at his trade, and also contracting and building. After some time he began farming and continued it to the present time. In 1880 he established a brickyard near Jasper, and has made money in that business. He manufactures about 500,000 briek of superior quality per an- num. As a Democrat, Mr. Hochgesang was coroner of the county five years, and filled the office creditably. In 1852 he married Otilda Habig, who bore him ten children: Mary, Joseph ( deceased ), Andrew, Albert, John, Rosa, Amelia, Dominic, Law- rence and Leo.
FRANK HOPKINS, farmer, was born February 25. 1853,
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
and is the youngest of six children born to Thomas and Rachel ( Harris) Hopkins. Thomas came to this State from Tennessee about half a century ago, and was among the earliest settlers of the county. He chose for his home a farm about three miles from Jasper. Here he died when our subject was but two years of age. Frank remained at home and helped his mother on the farm, and owing to this and the poor facilities of the day he re- ceived a limited education. In 1876 they removed to the farm now occupied by him, and August 3, 1879, Alice Mathews became his wife. They became the parents of two children, only one now living, Porter. Mr. Hopkins has always made farming his occu- pation and has succeeded well in that pursuit. He now owns 120 acres of good land, and is on the road to wealth. He is a Repub- lican and always manifests a lively interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives, where he is con- sidered an enterprising and rising farmer.
W. S. HUNTER, attorney, of the firm of Traylor & Hunter, of Jasper, Ind., was born in Pennsylvania, December 22, 1845, son of Robert and Emily (Callen) Hunter, natives also of Penn- sylvania. The father who was of Scotch-Irish descent came to Indiana in 1858 and settled in Perry County where he farmed and taught school. Winfield S., our subject, received a good edu- cation, and at the age of fifteen enlisted as a private in Company L. Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, serving in the Army of the Cum- berland over two years. At the close of the war he returned home and taught school until about 1874, meanwhile studying law with the view to making it a profession. In 1875 he was ad- mitted to the Perry County bar, and graduated from the law de- partment of the State University of Bloomington, Ind. In 1876 he came to Jasper, and practiced his profession two years, and later entered into partnership with Mr. Traylor. They are doing the leading legal business of the county. September 22, 1875, he married Isabel Gladish, a native of Pike County, Ind. They have four children-two sons and two daughters. He is a Repub- lican and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
FRANK JOSEPH & CO., manufacturers and dealers in spokes, established their business in 1883 and do an annual bus- iness of about $8,000 to $10,000. Ignatz Eckert of the above firm was born July 31, 1836, in Baden, Germany, and is the eld- est in a family of seven children born to Francis X. and Rosa (Elmlinger) Eckert. Ignatz was raised in his native country until he attained the age of eleven years. He then immigrated to the United States with his parents and located in Dubois County, Ind., where he received a very good common school edu- cation. October 15, 1857, he married Theresa Gramelspacher, who bore him twelve children, eleven of whom are now living: Rosa,
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Frank, Fronia, Carrie, Harmon, Joseph, Adaline, Andrew, Jacob, Sophia and William. After marriage Mr. Eckert established a brew- ery which he continued eighteen years, and then engaged in the re- tail druggist business for four years. In 1878 he was elected to the office of county treasurer, which office he filled very efti- ciently. Heand family are members of the Catholic Church.
EDWARD J. KEMPF, M. D., of Jasper, Ind., was born in the town of Ferdinand, September 30, 1858, son of Matthew and Catherine (Jeglie) Kempf. who were natives of Baden and Switzerland, respectively. The father came to the United States and located in Louisville, Ky., where he studied medicine and practiced that profession until 1857, when he came to Dubois County and continued practicing until his death. He was a very successful physician and surgeon, and was professor of surgery in the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville at the time of his death in 1880. He was a Democrat and a member of the State Legislature in 1859. The mother died in 1877. Our sub- ject was raised in Ferdinand, receiving a good education, and attended St. Meinrad College four years. He began studying medicine when seventeen years old, and attended the University of Louisville during 1876, 1877 and 1878, graduating from that college in 1878. He then returned home and began practicing with his father. He practiced his profession in Ferdinand until 1885, when he came to Jasper. In 1884 he married Carrie Judy. He is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
MATHIAS KLINGEL was born in Dubois County, Ind., February 23, 1845, and is the third in a family of ten children born to John P. and Theresa (Reiling) Klingel, who came from Germany to this State in 1841. Our subject remained at home, working on the farm, until he was twenty-two years old. He re- ceived a fair education in the common schools of his native State, and February 26, 1867, his marriage with Mary A. Sander was solemnized. To their union one child has been born, Theodore, born September 15, 1869. After his marriage, he, in partnership with his brother, established a saw and grist-mill about five miles east of Jasper, continuing there seven years. In the spring of 1885 he removed to Jasper and purchased an interest with Mr. Seibert in the shingle and barrel manufacturing business, at which he has since continued. They have been very successful in their busi- ness ventures, and, being of an enterprising spirit, have every indication of being one of the best firms in the vicinity. In pol- itics Mr. Klingel is a Democrat, and he and family are members of the Catholic Church.
ANDREW KREMPP, son of Andrew and Mary (Straus) Krempp, was born in Baden, Germany, January 9, 1836. He
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received a good education in the schools of his native land, also a good schooling in France in the English language. He learned the baker and confectionery trade. In 1864 he came to the United States, landing at New York, where he remained about five months, and then went to St. Louis and remained there abont the same length of time, when he volunteered his services as baker for the Government for six months, but, on account of the war closing. he did not remain that long. He staid for some time in St. Louis, and from there moved to Tell City, Ind., thence to Troy, thence back to Tell City, and then came to Jasper in 1876, where he has since resided. Louisa Ledig became his wife October 26, 1866. They are the parents of seven children: Le- na, Charles, Andrew, Conrad, George, Carrie and Alfonso. In 1880 he established a pop manufactory. He has been very snc- cessful in his enterprises, and is now running a fancy grocery store, in connection with his manufactory. He owns 22 acres of good land, partly within the town corporation. He and fam- ily are members of the Catholic Church, and he is an A. O. U. W. and a Democrat.
SEBASTIAN KUEBLER, merchant of Jasper, Ind., was born in Baden, Germany, January 16, 1829, son of John and Magdalena (Gntzwiler) Kuebler, natives also of Baden. The father came to this country about 1832-33 and located in Ohio. where he farmed a number of years and in 1840 he removed to Dubois County, and still continued farming until he retired from work. He and wife resided with our subject until their deaths. Sebastian was raised in this county and learned the wagon maker's trade and followed this and blacksmithing in Jasper for over twenty years with good success. In 1875 he engaged in the leaf tobacco business, continuing in this three years. In 1878 he started his present business there and to the present time has met with fair success. He has a large and select stock of general merchandise and has a good trade. In 1853 he mar. ried Stephana Lampert, a native of Germany. To them were born ten children-three sons and seven daughters. Mr. Kueh- . ler is a Democrat and has held the office of township trustee, four years. He was one of the first members of the town council and seenred the incorporation of Jasper. He and wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church and he is one of the solid business men of the county.
KUNKEL & ECKSTEIN. Their livery stable was estab- lished in 1877 under the firm name of Kunkel & Chrisinon. It had been under the proprietorship of different parties until 1882. when the present partnership was formed. Panl Kunkel, a native of Germany, was born May 19, 1842, and is the fourth child in a family of eleven children born to Konrad and Mary ( Morhard)
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