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 57
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 57
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whom yet live. In 1832 he wedded Mary Whitten, our subject's mother, who, with five children, yet survive him. Morman Fisher, the immediate subject of this sketch, secured a limited education in youth from the primitive schools of his boyhood days. He was engaged in farming until 1860, and from that time to 1863 was engaged in photography at Huntingburgh, looking after his farm and filling the office of justice of the peace. In the latter year he organized Company M, Tenth Indiana Cavalry, of which he served as captain until the close of the war. Return- ing home he resumed the management of his farm, although liv- ing at Huntingburgh, and being admitted to the bar of Dubois County, has turned considerable of his attention to the legal pro- fession. Since the war he has served twelve years as trustee of Patoka Township and two terms in the lower house of the State Legislature. In politics he is Democratic and is a member of the Masonic and G. A. R. fraternities. In 1856 he married Mary A. Wade, who bore him two children, only one-James Lewis- now living. The wife died June 27, 1859, and December 14, 1865, Capt. Fisher wedded Wilhelmina Helfrich, granddaughter of Jacob Geiger, the founder of Huntingburgh. To this marriage four sons and one daughter, all living, have been born. Capt. Fisher is one of the county's most honored and respected citi- zens. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster by President Cleve- land.
THOMAS R. GREEN, postmaster and railroad agent at Duff, Ind., is a native of Dubois County, born May 6, 1843. He is the eldest of nine children in the family of Robert and Melissa A. (Miller) Green, also natives of the county, The paternal grandfather came to Indiana from New York at a very early day, and located near Ireland, in this county. He later removed to Jasper, where Robert Green was born and lived until seven years old. The family then returned to the home farm and Robert, after his marriage, lived on a farm in the south part of Madison Township until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1861, and the following May died in a hospital boat on the Ohio River. The widow is still living at Ireland. She was born November 7, 1825, and is a daughter of Adam Miller, one of the first settlers of the county. Thomas R. was reared at home, receiving a common school education. He re- mained at home until February 7, 1864, when he was enrolled for service in Company G, Forty-second Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served until June 11, 1865. He partici- pated in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, the battles before Atlanta and the siege of that city. After his return from the war he was engaged in teaching school for eight years.
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
He then removed to Illinois, where he remained for one year, after which he returned to this county and was engaged in farming for a few years. In September, 1881, he came to Duff and opened a general merchandise store, which he conducted until the spring of 1885. In October, 1881, he was commis- sioned as postmaster, and the next year was appointed agent for the L. E. & St. L. R. R. at Duff, both of which positions he still holds. October 14, 1871, he was joined in marriage with Anna Hill, who died March 26, 1878, leaving two children: Al- vah E. and Nellie. He chose for his second wife, M. M. Miller, to whom he was married October 10, 1883. Mr. Green is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and for many years was a local preacher.
JOSEPH HEITZ, county commissioner of Dubois County, was born in Germany July 14, 1824, son of Lawrence and Kath- arine (Keen) Heitz. They came to America, landing at New Orleans in 1832. The mother died of that terrible disease, chol- era, and a short time after the father died of the same disease. The eldest of the children was only eleven years old. The two youngest were placed in the orphan asylum at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the eldest, a girl, went to work for a family in that city. Our subject was cared for by a cousin, with whom he lived about seven years. At the age of fifteen he went to live with his eldest sister, who had married and was living in Kentucky. He re- mained there about a year, working in a printing office; later he clerked in a drug store and then came to Dubois County, Ind., with his brother-in-law, with whom he stayed until of age. He then bought a farm in Patoka Township. At the end of four years he sold out and bought the farm where he now lives. He owns 280 acres of good land, well improved. In 1850 he mar- ried Katherine Rouscher. To them were born twelve children, seven now living: Lawrence, Kate, Daniel, George, Louis, Tracy and Mary. Both husband and wife are members of St. Mary's Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a highly respected and influential citizen.
JOHN HERMAN HEITMANN, farmer, was born in Han- over, Germany, October 18, 1834, son of Henry Heitmann and Mary A. Kuhlhoff, natives of the same place. The parents im- migrated to this country in 1846, locating in Dubois County, Ind., on the farm where our subject now lives. The father died in January, 1863. The mother still lives with her son at the ad'- vanced age of eighty-three years. John H. received his educa- tion in his native country and attended school here about three months. He has since obtained a good education in the English language by his own efforts. He has had control of his father's farm since quite a small boy, and has now 320 acres of good
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land, well improved and with good buildings. He gives especial attention to stock raising, and is doing well financially. In No- vember, 1862, he married Katharine Behrens. To them have been born nine children. These are living: Anna, Mary, Eliza- beth, Louis, Herman and Frank. Both husband and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a Democrat.
JOHN F. HEMMER was born August 20, 1847, son of John F. and Fredrica Hemmer, natives of Germany, from which coun- try they came to the United States in 1842, and located in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and then came to Dubois County, Ind., and bought them a farm. The father's death occurred in 1860 and the mother's in 1882. John F. received a fair education in his boy- hood and remained at home with his mother working on the farm until he attained his majority. He learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it eleven years, having built during that time 322 barns and numerous smaller buildings. In 1879 he purchased the farm of 160 acres where he now lives. He was married, in 1874, to Mary Katterjohn, born January 28, 1848. Four children have been born to their union: Anna Matilda, Benjamin, William K. and Frederick J. Mr. Hemmer is a member of the Methodist Church and a warm Republican.
FREDERICK HILDEBRAND, dealer in and manufacturer of boots and shoes, was born in Hanover, Germany, May 19, 1823. The parents, Charles and Wilhelmina (Strohrman) Hildebrand, were natives of the same country and came to America in 1854 and located first in Louisville, Ky., and afterward came to Hunt- ingburgh, Ind., and worked at the shoe-maker's trade until he be- came disabled by sickness and old age, and died at the home of our subject in 1872. The mother died in 1870. Frederick was raised in Hanover, where he received a good German education. At the age of fifteen he began learning his father's trade and worked at it until 1851, when he came to the United States and worked two years in Louisville, Ky., and then came to Hunting- burgh, where he has lived ever since, engaged in his present business, and meeting with good success. In 1853 he married Mary Borman, a native of Hanover, who died in 1878, leaving eight children: Wilhelmina, Joanna, Louis, Emma, Henry, Gustav, Leonard and George. For his second wife he married Wilhelmina Kruse, in March, 1883. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mr. Hildebrand is one of the old pioneers of Dubois County, and bears the reputation of being an honestand indus- trious citizen.
BERNARD HOFFHAUS, son of John T. and Katharine (Sloeter) Hoffhaus, born January 28, 1826, is a native of Ger- many, from whence his parents immigrated in 1846. They lo-
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
cated in Dubois County, where Bernard bought a farm and where the father and mother died. In 1858 our subject pur- chased a farm of 240 acres upon which he has since resided. It has good buildings and is well improved. In 1868 he built a saw-mill, in partnership with Conrad Hoeuner, which they ran with good success until 1884. He was married to Mary Meyers. June, 1848. To this union were born eleven children-seven of whom are living: John, Fred, Eliza, William, Conrad, Matilda and Herman. Mr. Hoffhaus is a Democrat. and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He has been quite success- ful in business affairs. Starting with little or no capital, he has now a comfortable competency.
MICHAEL JANDEBEUR, one of the oldest pioneers of the county was born in Aschaffenburg Baiern, Germany, April 18, 1826. He is the fourth son in a family of seven sons and two daughters, born to the marriage of Michael Jandebeur and Eva Schwabin, natives of France and Germany, respectively. The paternal grandfather was a man of large wealth, owning a fine estate near Paris. During the French Revolution. he belonged to the Royalist party, and in 1796, when Napoleon became the head of the Government, his property was confiscated and he fled as a refugee to Germany, where he died. His son, the father of our subject. was a small boy when they removed to Germany. He grew to manhood in that country; was married and during the latter part of his life was the proprietor of a hat manufactory. He died about 1875, at the age of over one hundred years. The mother preceded him about four years, at the age of eiglity- seven. Several members of the family have shown remarkable ability; a brother of Michael was prime minister in the kingdom of Baiern, and was the author of numerous works on law. Michael, at the age of thirteen, began to learn the tinner's trade, at which he worked until 1847, when he entered the army, serv- ing for a term of four years, which period included the Rebellion of 1848. After leaving the army he went to France, where he worked at his trade. For about two years he was also on the police force in Paris. In 1854 he came to the United States, and for the first five months after his arrival was employed as a cook at Delmonico's restaurant. He then worked at his trade in New York and Philadelphia for several months after which he jour- neyed on foot through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, traveling over 1,200 miles. He at last located at Huntingburgh, Ind., where he conducted a shop for about twenty years. He is now living on a farm of eighty acres and raises a large amount of fruit, especially grapes, from which he makes an excellent article of wine. January 8, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mary B. Bockstahler, a native of Baden, Germany. They have eight
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children. only seven of whom are living. They are Martha, Julius, Conrad, Daniel, Jeannette, Lena and Caroline. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted as a musician in the band of the Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served about one year when he become disabled through disease. His career taken altogether has been a remarkable one.
HENRY W. KATTERJOHN, of the firm Schroer & Katter- john, dealers in general merchandise, Huntingburgh, Ind., is a son of Henry A. and Sophia ( Elshof) Katterjohn. He was born July 12, 1856, in Pike County, and is the eldest of four children (for parents' sketch see history of Pike County). Our subject was raised on the farm and received a good education in the com- mon branches. He followed farming as an occupation until 1884, when he engaged in his present business in Huntingburgh, and has met with good success. The firm are doing a fairly large and remunerative business, and have a good and select stock of goods. Mr. Katterjohn's political views are Republican, and he is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, and is among the rising business men of Huntingburgh.
FREDERICK WILLIAM KATTERHENRY, senior mem- ber of the firm of Katterhenry Bros. of Huntingburgh, Ind., and native of Dubois County, was born December 5, 1843, and is one of the four children born to Louis and Christina (Nueneker) Katterhenry. The children's names are Henry L., Frederick W., John W., and Louis, who is the junior member of the firm. The parents, who were natives of Prussia, came to this country in 1840 and located on a farm near Huntingburgh when the father died in 1867 and the mother in 1880. Our subject received his education in the district schools near his home, and at the age of twenty he left home and teamed for one year in Huntingburgh, and then engaged, on a small scale, in the general merchandise business with Herman Behmer as partner. In 1869 he sold his interest in the business and engaged in grist-milling, building the Star Grist-mills here. In 1875 he quit this business, and he and his brother built their present large brick building and en- gaged in general merchandise. They have a very fine stock of goods and are doing a paying business. In connection with their store they have a large pork packing establishment and also a grain warehouse near the depot. In 1865 he married Sophia Reutepohler. To them were born three children: Eli E., Edward H. and Oliver W. In politics he is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Association.
LOUIS KATTERHENRY, brother of Frederick W., was born December 8. 1850, was raised on the farm, and received an ordinary education in both English and German. At the age of nineteen, he began teaching school in the county, continuing in
24
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
. this business two years. when he bought an interest in the Star Grist-mill and then engaged in his present business with his brother. In 1873. he married Eliza Meyer. native of Dubois County. They have five children: Benjamin Franklin, Lillie ( .. Arthur T .. Nellie A. and David. Mr. Katterhenry is a Re- publican, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation.
JOHN W. KATTERHENRY son of Henry and Christina. (Nunneker ) Katterhenry was born April 8. 1848. His parents were natives of Germany. The father immigrated to this country when a young man, locating for some time in Cincinnati, and afterward came to Dubois County, Ind .. and bought the farm. where he lived until his death March 12 1867. Jolin W. received his education from the primitive schools of his day. and remained at home working on the farm until 1871. when he assumed control and bought out the interest of the others. He has now 240 acres of excellent land well cultivated. October 19, 1871. he was married to Sarah Koch, by whom he is the father of six children: Lydia. Emma. Frank, Amelia, Nettie and Walter. Both husband and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He is a Republican in politics and a well known and respected citizen of the county.
FREDERICK B. KATTERHENRY, junior member of the firm of Katterhenry & Son, merchants of Huntingburgh, Ind., was born January 1, 1858, and is a son of Adolph and Christina ( Bremer) Katterhenry, natives of Germany. Adolph came to the United States in 1844. and located first in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1850 came to Dubois County and estab- lished the first brick manufactory in Huntingburgh. He re- mained in this business until 1885 and is now retired from active work. He is a Republican and a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Frederick was raised in Huntingburgh. and received a good English and German education. During 1879-80 he taught school and afterward clerked in stores in his native town. In 1882 he engaged in business with his father, and now has active management of affairs. They have a large and select stock of goods and have a fine trade. Frederick is a member of the Methodist Church and is an excellent young man.
CHRISTIAN KESTNER was born in Germany in May, 1833, a son of B. Kestner and Anna Elizabeth Kilian, who came to this country in 1836 or 1837, and located in Louisville, Ky. Remaining there a short time they came to Huntingburgh. Ind., and rented land for several years. They then bought forty acres of land and gradually added to it until they at one time owned 120 acres, and also a grist-mill on the Patoka River. The father
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died in 1871, and the mother in 1859. Christian acquired a good education by his own efforts and remained at home assisting his father on the farm and in the mill. which he built. He had no instruction in milling, but he succeeded in making many improve- ments and built one of the best mills in this section of the country. He received 120 acres of land from his father, and at one time owned 200 acres. He afterward sold 180 acres and now owns eighty acres of well cultivated land. May 28, 1862, he married Mary Ficken. They have no children of their own. but have raised two children: Maggie H. Roth and Lawrence Smith. He and family are members of the Methodist Church, of which he has been a member over twenty years. He is a Republican in politics, and is a highly respected and Christian gentleman.
JONAS KILIAN was born in (funtershausen. Germany, February 8. 1837. being one of four children born to Henry and Elizabeth (Siebert ) Kilian, natives also of Germany. The father, who was a farmer, came to the United States in 1854 and soon after came to Dubois County, Ind., and located on a farm near Huntingburgh. where he remained until his death, which occurred n 1857. Our subject received a good German education in his 1 ative country, and after coming to this country, worked on the I rm until 1863, when he came to Huntingburgh and worked at 1 anual labor until 1866, and then bought a brickyard and kiln, working them successfully until 1876, when he and C. W. Dufen- ( ach engaged in general merchandising, continuing at this until 1881, when he sold out his interest and bought a one-third inter- st in his present business. He was married, in 1858, to Eliza- eth Appel. To them were born five children: Anna (deceased), John, Emma, Louis and Edward. Mr. Kilian is a Democrat and was a member of the town council one term. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and he is a success- ful business man and an npright citizen.
CHRISTIAN KORNRUMPF, jeweler of Huntingburgh, Ind., was born in Wolfhagen, Hessia. Germany, March 20, 1845, and is one of two children born to John and Anna Mary (Fuchs ) Kornrumpf. The mother died in Germany in 1847, and the father still resides in the old country. Our subject was raised with his mother's people after her death, and received a good education in his native language. In 1856 he came to America, and lived on a farm in Dubois County two years. He there learned the shoe-maker's trade in Huntingburgh and worked at that business one year, after that he clerked in Leonard Bretz's store three years, and for three years afterward taught school in the town and county. He then returned to Mr. Bretz's, with whom he remained three more years. In 1870, he engaged in the manufacture and sale of organs, and although having no previous
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
experience, he made such a success of the business that he con- tinued working at it until 1875, when he quit manufacturing and began selling them; later he added a large stock of other musical instruments, also adding watches, clocks, jewelry, sewing machines and spectacles. Mr. Kornrumpf's business increased so rapidly that in 1883, he erected his present large brick building. In 1870, he married Anna B. Bretz. To them have been born four children: Anna S. (deceased), Martha W., Lydia K. and Clara A. He and family are members of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church. Mr. Kornrumpf is an enterprising and successful business man, and is an upright and honest citizen.
FRANK KLEE a native of Prussia, was born October 16, 1845. He is the ninth child in a family of five sons and si. daughters, born to the marriage of Theodore Klee and Auna Linsnig, also natives of Germany. The father, who was a black- smith, came to the United States when Frank was an infant, and located near Evansville, Ind. He owned a small farm, and con- tinued to follow his trade until 1862, when he came to Dubois County and located in Ferdinand Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred in September, 1877. The mother is still living at Evansville. Frank was reared at home, receiving but little instruction in the schools. At the age of seventeen he learned the miller's trade which he followed until his marriage, after which he bought a farm east of Huntingburgh where he has since resided, he also owns property in the town. July 31, 1866, he was united in marriage with Mary Hoing, a native of Kentucky, and to them have been born eleven children, only eight of whom are living, namely: Edward, William, Anna, Lovis, Frank, Mary, Joseph and Leonard. Both Mr. Klee and wife are members of the Catholic Church. For a short time during 1885, he was en- gaged in conducting a meat market in Huntingburgh.
GERHARD KOCH, JR., was born in Dubois County, Ind., April 12, 1842, and is a son of Gerhard Koch, Sr. (see sketch.) He was educated in the common schools near his home and at the age of nineteen he married and settled on the home farm where he has since resided; he has a fine farm of 160 acres well im- proved, and gives especial attention to stock raising. November 14, 1860, he married Mary Wesseler, a native of the county. They have six children, five now living: John, Frank, Henry, Edward and Amelia. December, 1863, he enlisted in Company M, Tenth Indiana Cavalry; he was with Thomas' army and was taken prisoner by Hood's army, but succeeded in making his es- cape after four, days' captivity, and rejoined his command; he is now a member of the G. A. R. and a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church.
HENRY LANDGREBE, born in Germany, September, 9,
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1842, is a son of John and Martha (Walter) Landgrebe, who were natives of Germany, where they lived and died. Henry re- inained in Germany until he was fourteen years old and had se- cured a fair education in his native language, he then came to the United States landing at New Orleans, where he remained three weeks, and in 1857, came to Dubois County, Ind., and lo- cated at Huntingburgh, where he learned the shoe maker's trade, working at this until the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company K, Sixty-fifth Indiana Volunteers, serving three years as a private. At the close of the war he returned home and en- gaged in the manufacture and sale of shoes, together with gen- eral merchandise, in company with F. Hildebrand. In about three years he sold out and engaged in the manufacture and sale of boots and shoes for himself, in which business he has re- mained ever since. In 1880, he entered into partnership with his hrother Louis, and Jonas Kilian and opened a gent's clothing store, and they are now conducting their enterprises with good suc- cess, having a large fine stock of goods. In 1865, he married Sophia Fuchs. To them were born eight children, six now liv- ing: Anna K., Elizabeth P., Christian A., Louisa, Emma, Otto K. (deceased), Nalda and Edmond C. Mr. Landgrebe is a warm Democrat and has been a member of the town council for eight years, and has held various other local offices of trust. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
M. D. LEMOND. a prominent farmer and stock dealer of Dubois County was born in the county, January 28, 1842, being the oldest of eleven children born to the marriage of John B. Lemond and Abselah Miller, natives of North Carolina and Dubois County, Ind., respectively. The father, when a youth, came to the county with his parents and located on the farm where our subject now lives. After his marriage he lived on the home farm for one year, and then moved on a tract of land which he entered about three-fourths of a mile east. He lived there several years, but finally returned to the home farm, where he died September 1, 1862. The mother died in April, 1878. They were among the earliest pioneers of the county, and to such as they is due the credit of the development of the county. M. D. Lemond was reared at home receiving a common school education. He worked on the home farm until the death of his father, when he assumed control, and has since continued to own and work it. He is now the owner of 700 acres of good land, and is probably the largest farmer in the county. He makes a specialty of stock raising, chiefly cattle. October 10, 1883, he was united in marriage with Sallie J. Harris, a native of Spencer County, and to them has been born one child, Charles B., born July 3 1884. Mr. Lemond resided at Duff Station on the Lake Erie & St. Louis Railway five miles west of Huntingburgh.
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