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 65
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 65
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W. S. LEMMON, brother of Clay Lemmon (above writ- ten), was born March 19, 1847, in Dubois County, Ind. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, and served his country faithfully nearly two years. In March, 1864, he returned to home and friends, and he and his brother worked on the home farm until 1867, when he bought a farm of 120 acres in Pike County, which he sold fifteen years later. In 1877 he purchased the farm of 230 acres, and which he has since increased to 270 acres, 110 acres being under culti- vation. November 29, 1868, he married Emma McDonald, born July 27, 1849, daughter of John and Margaret (Bacon ) McDon- ald. They are the parents of four children: Clara I., Ira C., Eliza M. and Harley S. Mr. Lemmon and wife are members of
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the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a warm Republi- can, who cast his first vote for Grant. He is a successful farmer, and is now the possessor of 377 acres of good land.
JOHN MEHNE, one of two children of John and Barbara (Price) Mehne, who were born in Germany, is a native of Ken- tucky, and was born November 10, 1853. The father came to America, and after marriage settled in Kentucky, where he re- mained for a few years, then came to this county and engaged in the saw-mill business. A short time after he bought 280 acres of land where his widow now lives. His death occurred January 12, 1876. In early life John learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked about ten years. In 1881 he bought a store- room, and filled it with a large stock of general merchandise, at which business he has been quite successful. He married Mar- garet Bacher, September 26, 1878, and to them were born three children: Johanna F., Margaret B. and Elizabeth M. Both husband and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a Democrat, having cast his first vote for Tilden.
BARBARA MEHNE is the only child of Munkert and Kate Mehne, natives of Germany. The father died in the old country in 1836, and the mother about five years ago, in New Albany, Ind. Our subject, who was born December 30, 1827, came to the United States in 1850, and settled in Dubois County. That same year she married George Hoffmann. To this union were born these children: Frederick, Margaret K., John, Anna M., George, Eva and Christian. January 20, 1863, Mr. Hoffman died, and after a widowhood of eight years she married J. Mehne, born in 1819. In 1876 he also died. Since that time she has remained a widow. Mrs. Mehne is a woman of pluck and enterprise, and manages a farm of 280 acres, 140 of which are under cultivation. By hard work and good management she has saved enough money to buy out all the heirs to the property, save one. She is an act- ive member of the Lutheran Church, and an energetic and capable business woman.
RICHARD F. MILBURN, one of the leading farmers of Boone Township, is a son of Francis and Mary (Inman) Mil- burn. The father was born in Kentucky in 1804, and the mother in 1809. They moved to Dubois County, Ind., in 1859, where they farmed. Francis died in November, 1861, and the mother died September 5, 1865. Richard was born October 24, 1832. He received but little schooling in his boyhood, but by his own exertions acquired a good business education. From early boy- hood he worked in a mill in Kentucky until 1853, when he came to Dubois County and settled on a rented farm where he remained two years. He afterward bought eighty acres of the farm where he now lives. He built a house and furnished it, but one
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day during his absence it burned to the ground. With the assist- ance of his neighbors he erected another in four days. He now owns 200 acres of good land. In 1852 he was married in Ken- tucky to Liza J. MeCarthy, born December 13, 1834. They were blessed with six children: Sarah E., John W., Richard M., James S., Mattie J. and one unnamed. Richard is a wide-awake young teacher, and has attended the State Normal School three terms. Husband and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Milburn has served as constable seven years, and has filled the office of justice twelve years. He is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Buchanan.
LOUIS L. MILLER, one of the leading young farmers of Boone Township, is a son of Adam and Mary A. (Kelso) Miller, who were natives of Dubois County, Ind. In early life the father began merchandising in Patoka Township, and soon after began farming. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Com- pany E. Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteers. After a service of two years he sickened and died March 11, 1863. The mother is still alive. Louis received a common school education, and at the age of twenty he began farming on a rented place. In 1883 he bought the farm of 140 acres on which he now lives, ninety acres are under cultivation, and are furnished with good buildings. Septem- ber 6, 1883, he married Alice N. Faris, born September 6. 1864. To their union one child was born, Ellis H., born March 8, 1885. In 1882, Mr. Miller was elected constable, which position he ably filled for two years. He is a strong Republican, and cast his first vote for Garfield. As a farmer he has been fairly suc- cessful.
JOHN RUDOLPH, a native of Germany, is a son of Henry P. and Elizabeth Rudolph, who were also natives . of the old country. The father was born 1778, and died in 1836, the mother was born 1781, died in 1834. John was born July 9, 1819, and at the age of twenty-three, having learned the shoe-maker's trade, he worked for wages till 1847 when he set up shop for himself. In 1852, he with his mother and other members of the family left their native land to find a home in the New World. They located in Portersville, Dubois Co., Ind., where he purchased eighteen lots. He now owns thirty-two, and is in good circum- stances. December 9, 1854, he married Anna C. Harter, born March 5, 1830. To their union were born seven children: Lizzie C., Elizabeth, Anna E., Belle, Henry P., John D. A. and Chris- tian W. For the last twelve years Mr. Rudolph has been keep- ing hotel in Portersville with good success. He and family are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a life long Demo- crat, having cast his first vote for Buchanan.
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CHRISTIAN H. RUDOLPH, farmer of Dubois County, Ind., was born June 14, 1846, in Pittsburgh, Penn .; at the age of eighteen he began working for himself on a rented farm, where he remained three years. He then purchased the farm of 135
acres where he now lives. In 1882 he bought a half interest in 270 acres of river bottom land, which he yet owns. April 30, 1875, he was married to Elizabeth Bauer, who died April 28. 1882. To them were born three children: Frank, Anna and Harry. September 5. 1882, he married Catharine Bauer. They have two children: William and Dora. In 1878 Mr. Rudolph was elected township trustee, and in 1882 was re-elected. He is a Democrat and an enterprising and successful farmer. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth Rudolph, who were uatives of Ger- many, were born in 1816 and 1825, respectively, and came to this county in 1851, and still reside here.
ADAM RUDOLPH, brother of Christian Rudolph (else- where written ), was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., December 29, 1847. He received a practical education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two he began tilling the soil on his father's farm, where he remained eight years, and then bought a half interest in the business now owned by C. H. and A. Rudolph. In 1879 Adam bought his brother's interest, and now has entire control of affairs. In 1883 he and his brother, Henry, established a general merchandise store in Haysville, and are having a lively trade. May 23, 1882, he married Barbara Tenfal. To them were born two children: Zenobia and Olga. Mr. Rudolph is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Lutheran Church. Our subject was assistant postmaster at Portersville for some time. He is one of the leading Democrats of the township, having cast his first vote for Greeley.
GEORGE RUDOLPH, brother of Christian Rudolph (else- where written), was born in Dubois County, Ind., December 28, 1834. In boyhood he received a practical education, and on reaching his majority, began working for himself. Six years later he purchased a one-half interest in the farm of 273 acres, now owned by himself and brother, Christian. In 1881 George led to Hymen's altar Miss Laura Bowers, born August 31, 1861, daughter of George and Caroline (Grossman) Bowers, both natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph are the parents of two children: Margaret and Walter C. The former born October 10. 1882, the latter born March 14, 1884. Mr. Rudolph's politi- cal views are Democratic, having cast his first vote for Tilden. As a farmer he has been quite successful, having one of the best farms in the White River bottom.
JOHN N. RUDOLPH, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Buer- line ) Rudolph, was born April 27. 1852, at Portersville, Ind.
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In early life he received a practical business education, and on reaching his majority began to work for himself on his father's farm. In 1881 he bought his father's interest in the home place, which amounted to 107 acres, which, together with forty-seven acres he had previously owned, make him a good home. In 1882 Mr. Rudolph married Miss Mary J. Weisman, born May 3, 1865, near Huntingburgh, Ind., daughter of Frederick W. and Eliza- beth (Bretz) Weisman. They have three children: Cora, Her- man and Helen, the last two, twins. Mrs. Rudolph is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Rudolph is a leading Democrat of Boone Township, and cast his first vote for S. J. Tilden. He has been quite successful in business, and is a good citizen.
PHILIP SCHWANK, one of the leading farmers of Boone Township, is the only child of John and Margaret ( Harley ) Schwank. The parents were natives of Germany and came to this country in 1843, and settled in Dubois County, Ind., on the farm where Philip now lives. He first entered forty acres of land. His personal property consisted of an old horse, a one-horse wagon and an ax. By hard labor and economy he increased his forty acres to 240 acres. His death occurred in 1864. The mother still lives with her son at the ripe old age of eighty- five. Our subject was born in Barracks, Penn., April 9, 1841. At the age of twenty he began doing for himself, taking charge of the home farm, of which he became sole proprietor at the death of his father. He has improved his home very much by erecting a good dwelling house and barn, and adding eighty acres. Cath- arine Birk became his wife May 8, 1859. To them were born eleven children: John, Ellis, Margaret, Rachel, Joseph (deceased), Anna, Lizzie, Jacob, Frank, Katie and Edward. Both husband and wife are members of the Catholic Church, and he is a Dem- ocrat, and cast his first vote for Greeley.
ADAM SCHNARR is a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, where he was born November 25, 1825. His parents, Christian and Barbara (Breidenbaugh) Schnarr, came from the old coun- try, where the father was born about 1794, and the mother about three years later. They reached America in 1851 and settled in Dubois County, Ind., where the father died in 1867 and the mother in 1847. Adam learned the tailor's trade and worked at it until 1846, when he came to the United States. After working in Pittsburgh, Penn., for two years, he came to Dubois County, and a year later bought the farm of eighty acres near Portersville, on which he lived until 1883, then moved to the above town. Mr. Schnarr married Margaret Hoffman in 1848. To them eight children were born: Henry, Adam, Peter, Carrie, John, Lee, Mollie and Annie F. Both husband and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a life-long Democrat, having cast his first vote for Pierce.
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WILLIAM B. SHERRITT, a son of John and Jane ( Brown) Sherritt, was born January 12, 1822. He received but little schooling, but by application and contact with business life, he has a good practical education. At the age of twenty-one, he began working on a farm of fifty-two acres of timber land given him by his father. In 1848, he bought out the heirs to the farm of 500 acres, on which he now lives. March 13, 1851, he married Miss Margaret CavenderShorn February 10. 1832, in Perry County, Ind. To them four children were born: Emma F., James W., William G. and Irvin B. James and William died in infancy, and at the age of twenty-three, Irvin was cut down in his young and vigorous manhood. His death occurred June 11, 1555. Mr. Sherritt's parents were married in Troy, Ind., in 182>. The father died October 23, 1875. and the mother December 14. 1876. Our subject is a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, and a stanch Republican, casting his first vote for Harrison.
CHRISTIAN SINNING, son of John and Elizabeth ( Tyler ) Sinning, was born February 22, 1842. in Pittsburgh. Penn. His parents were natives of Germany, and immigrated to America in 1527. The father was a miller by trade, but after coming to the United States, he located in Pittsburgh, and worked in an iron foundry till 1845, when he came to this county. locating on his farm of 200 acres, near Haysville. He sold that and bought eighty acres in Boone Township. He again sold out and moved to Portersville, where he died in 1876. The mother's death or- curred eighteen years before. At the age of nineteen, Christian enlisted in Company I. Twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry. and fought bravely at Shiloh, Grand Prairie, Ark .. Port Gibson. Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and Fort Blakely. December 1865, he returned home. He was married March 10, 1863. to Margaret Mehne. The fruits of this union are eleven children: Conrad, Caroline, John, Susannah, Eva. Liz- zie, George. Christian, Barbara, Amelia and Sebastian C. Both parents belong to the Lutheran Church. In polities he is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for Gen. Grant. For about five years he farmed, and then began merchandising in Portersville, where he still continues in business. He has a farm in connection with his store, and is doing well.
JESSE TRAYLOR, one of a large family of children born to Joel and Catherine ( Bomar) Traylor, was born January 9. 1820. The parents were natives of South Carolina, where they followed farming till their removal to Pike County, Ind. Here Joel bought a farm of 160 acres, on which he and wife lived un- til their deaths. In 1841. Josse came to Dubois County and pur- phased 200 acres of land. By hard work and good management.
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he succeeded in clearing about 125 acres. In 1841, he married Jane MeDonald, born in Dubois County, in 1822. To them were born these children: William A., Joel, Lockhart, Perry G., Lonis, Ellis, Edward S., Albert and Basil. In 1861 Mrs. Traylor died, and a year later Mr. Traylor married Margaret Drinkhouse. They are the parents of three children: George, Kerr and Hugh. In politics Jesse is a Democrat, never having voted any other ticket.
ALBERT H. TRAYLOR, an enterprising young farmer of Dubois County, Ind., is a son of Jesse and Jane ( MeDonald) Traylor. Albert was born April 5, 1854, in Dubois County. He received a practical business education in the common schools and at the age of seventeen, began working for wages on the farm; he was married to Frances A. Chattin, March 14, 1875. She was born April 10, 1856, and is a daughter of Nathaniel and Susan ( Allen ) Chattin. To Mr. and Mrs. Traylor were born five children: Charlotte J., Flora M. (deceased ), Lola, Floyd and Bertha. Both husband and wife are members of the Cul- berland Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Traylor is an elder. He is a warm Democrat and cast his first vote for Tiklen; he is a wide-awake and enterprising young man and is sure to make a success of life.
J. N. WALLAR is one of a family of seven children born to William and Sarah ( Camp) Wallar. Both parents were born in Virginia, the father in 1809, and the mother in 1510. The father was a farmer and moved to Ohio where they remained till 1851. His death occurred in 1862 and his widow's in 1883. Our subject was born July 9, 1835, in Guernsey County, Ohio. Here- ceived a practical business education, and at the age of twenty- seven years, began to work for himself; he soon after bought a farm of 120 acres, which he worked four years. In 1566, he came to this county and bought 160 acres, where he remained about thirteen years ; he then bought his present farm, of 240 acres. By hard work and good management he has made his farm one of the best in the township. September 5, 1861, he married Margaret Mc Vey, born February 8, 1842. To their union were born two children: Alice M. and Ida A .. both of whom are married, the former to U. G. Bixley, and the latter to his brother W. F. Both Mr. and Mrs. Waller are members of the Methodist Church. He is a strong Republican.
HENRY WEISHEIT, one of two children of John and Elizabeth ( Baumbach ) Weisheit, was born in Germany April 10. 1835. The father, who was a teamster, was born in 1818, and the mother in 1812. They came with our subject to this country in 1852. After residing here two years the father died, and in 1865 the mother passed from among the living. Abont 1555 our
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subject came to Dubois County, Ind., and purchased eighty acres of land, where he lived twenty-two years. He then sold out and bought the farm of 100 acres where he now lives. He was mar- ried to Emma Munkel, who has borne nine children: John, Josephine, Margaret, Joseph, Mary, Charles, August Otto, Anna and Christian. In 1864, at his country's call, he shouldered his musket and went to the field to aid in the great struggle between North and South; he aided in the battles of Nashville and Deca- tur, Tenn., Raleigh, N. C., and numerous others. Mr. Weisheit and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is a warm Democrat in politics.
SAMUEL W. WINEINGER is a son of John A. and Cath- erine Wineinger. The father, a native of Tennessee, was born in 1808. In 1835 he and his family moved to Orange County, Ind., where they lived about twenty-one years, and then came to this county. Samuel was born November 18. 1832, in Tennessee. He was poorly educated, the sum total of his schooling being about three months. In 1870 he came in possession of 160 acres of land, mostly timbered. He now has ninety acres cleared and under cultivation. He married Nancy A. Harris March 21, 1865. To them were born five children: Albert (deceased), Olga, Mar- shal (deceased), Homer, Delle and one unnamed. At the end of eight years his wife died, and January 6, 1879, he married Malissa Anderson, born August 14, 1852. They are the parents of four children: three unnamed and Dora. During the war Mr. Wineinger was mail carrier from Jasper to Albany. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Douglas. He and wife are church members.
JOHN F. WINEINGER, son of John A. and Catharine ( Wineinger ) Wineinger, was born February 28, 1840, in Orange County, Ind. He had poor advantages for education, but now is a good business man. At twenty-two years of age he began work- ing for himself on his father's farm. He now owns 200 acres of land, 100 under cultivation. About 1861 he married Rachel Corne, who lived only two years. A year later he took for his second wife, Maria White, who bore him four children: Irvie W., Belle, Stella and Charles. After a few years she was called from among the living, and in 1877 he married again-Caroline Walters became his wife, born June 23, 1856. The family born to this union are Nancy A., Andrew, Harvey L. and Cora V. Mr. Wineinger is a warm Democrat, never having voted any other ticket. As a farmer he has been fairly successful, and he is much respected by his neighbors.
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
GEORGE F. ATKINS. of Birdseye, Ind., was born Febru- ary 9, 1853, in Dubois County, his parents being Martin and Elizabeth (Denbo) Atkins, who were natives of this county, where they still reside. Our subject received a very limited edu- cation, owing to the inconvenience of school surroundings. Thus his boyhood was passed, mainly at hard work on his father's farm. Principally by his own exertions he acquired sufficient education to teach. He taught several terms before his marriage with Mollie Hilt, of Perry County, Ind., October 19, 1873. Mr. Atkins has been teaching ever since with periods of rest. He taught his last term in the spring of 1884, and may be called a first class teacher. He sold his farm in Perry County, and came to Dubois County in 1879, where he purchased another farm. In 1881 he sold this farm also, and engaged in general merchandise in Birdseye, with E. H. Baxter as partner. In 1885 he (our sub- ject ) purchased the other's interest, and now controls the business. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins have four children: Eldora, Ella, Hattie and Charles Herbert. Mr. Atkins is a Republican, and a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., also of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi. His wife is a Baptist.
MATHIAS BREIT of Mentor, Ind., was born February 24, 1849, in Prussia, Germany. John and Mary ( Klein ) Breit were the parents of eight children, our subject being the oldest. The father who was a blacksmith, immigrated to the United States in 1882 and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, the same year. The mother's death occurred in Germany in 1860. Our subject came to Am- erica in 1871. He had good educational advantages and came to the United States to escape regular army service at home. He worked in Philadelphia for some time and then came to St. Meinrad, Ind., and began blacksmithing and manufacturing wagons, buggies, etc. From there he moved to Mentor, Ind., where he accumulated property worth $1,000. All his people are in the United States except one brother who is still in Ger- many. He was married in December, 1876, to Katrina Rein- hart. They have had five children, two of whom are living: Charles and Anna. Mr. Breit is a Democrat and he and his family are Catholics.
JOSEPH E. BUCHART of Schnellville, Ind., was born January 1, 1854. Edward and Katrina Buchart were the par-
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ents of nine children, seven now living, our subject being the third in the family. The father was a native of this State and among the early settlers. The mother was a native of Germany. Our subject spent his boyhood at home on the farm, where he re- ceived a limited education in English, remaining there until he was twenty-three years of age. He then left home and engaged in the general merchandise business at Schnellville, Ind., where he still continues to hold forth. He has a complete line of goods, carrying over a $10,000 stock. and has no competition in town. He was married, in May, 1878, to Catharine Schnell, daughter of Henry Schnell, the result of their union being two children: Edward and Harry. Mr. Buchart is a member of the Catholic Church and a Democrat in polities.
WILLIAM M. CHANLEY, of Irish descent, was born De- cember 25, 1830, in Kentucky. He is a son of George W. and Malinda ( Baysinge. ) Chanley, who were the parents of seven- teen children, ten of whom are now living. They were natives of Tennessee and Kentucky and came to Dubois County, Ind., where they have since resided. Our subject came to Indiana when about four years old, and was a pioneer boy on a wilderness farm till he was about twenty. He was married, October 31, 1855, to Sarah Miles, born and raised in southern Indiana. To them were born nine children, two of whom are dead. Those now living are Matilda, Mary, John W., Nancy J., Malinda, Barbara and Nora. After marriage Mr. Chanley settled on a farm of forty acres, all in heavy woods. He received no assistance and made what he has by his own exertions. He now owns 460 acres of fine land, 180 acres being cleared. He deals quite ex- tensively in stock, and is a prosperous farmer. Mr. Chanley is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Democrat, and takes an active part in politics. He and wife are members of the Chris- tian Church.
SAMPSON COX was born October 12. 1851, in Dubois County, Ind., and is the eldest of eleven children born to James and Nancy (Conley) Cox. The father was born in Kentucky, and came with his parents to Dubois County at the age of seven years. Here he was married and now lives. Our subject re- mained at home with his parents until he reached his majority, when he began working for himself. His previous education was quite limited, but he now began attending school at Marengo Academy, and getting a good classical and literary education. He made his own way through school, doing farm work between terms. At the age of sixteen he began teaching in Dubois County, and has continued in that work ever since, with the ex- ception of his academic schooling. He also owns 120 acres of land, which he farms successfully. Sixty acres are under culti-
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