USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana : from the earliest times 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 45
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EBERHARD P. SCHENK, a very prominent farmer of the county, was born May 12, 1821, in Germany, and is one of six children born to Frank and Elizabeth Schenk. The parents were native Germans, and came to this country in January, 1837, and located in the eastern part of Posey County, Ind. There the father died in 1846, and the mother about 1872, having lived to be over ninety years of age. Our subject was about sixteen years of age when he came to the United States. He received a very good German education, but his English education has been acquired by self application. When twenty-six years old he married and settled in Marrs Township, on a farm where he lived until 1855. At that time he came to Mount Vernon with a brother and began keeping hotel, which business he abandoned in 1861, and moved on his present farm of 190 acres. He has
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excellent buildings on his farm, and is one of the wealthy citi- zens and farmers of the county. In 1847 he was married to Margaret Deig (died January 9, 1874), who bore him these chil- dren: Mary Anne, Katie, Frank, Andrew, Barbara, Maggie, Lizzie. Mr. Schenk and family are members of the Catholic Church, and he has always been a Democrat politically. He lias been county commissioner for six years. His son, Andrew A. Schenk, was born April 8, 1857, in Mount Vernon. He has al- ways made his home with his parents. September 18, 1884, he was married to Katie Grabert. He follows the occupation of farming, in which he has been very successful.
EBERHARD B. SCHENK was born in Vanderburg County, Ind., July 10, 1844. He is a son of Francis and Maria (Deig) Schenk, who were natives respectively of Prussia and Bavaria. Francis came with his parents to the United States when quite young, and located in Marrs Township, Posey Co., Ind., where he was raised, married and lived until 1854 or 1855, with the excep- tion of a short residence in Vanderburg County, where our sub- ject was born. In 1855 they removed to Mount Vernon, where they have ever since resided. They kept the Union Hotel until the father's death, February 14, 1865. The mother died June 9, 1880. Our subject secured a good education, and after his father's death he assumed control of the hotel business, and continued at that work five or six years. The five following years he was en- gaged in the pump and steam-pipe business, and since that time has kept a large and select stock of stoves, tin and hardware, and is doing a thriving business. In 1871 he took for his companion and helpmate through life, Elizabeth Stahlhoefer, born in Van- derburg. They have four living children: Elizabeth, Edward J., John and Clemens. Mr. Schenk's political views are Demo- cratic, and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
SCHIELA BROS., John F. and Charles, are manufacturers and dealers in furniture in Mount Vernon, Ind. The business was originally started by their father, Charles Schiela, who was a native of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. He came to the United States in 1854, and in the fall of that year established his furniture store in Mount Vernon, and remained in that town un- til his death, November 22, 1880. In June, 1854, he married Christina Raetz, who still survives him. John F., senior mem-
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ber of the firm, was born and raised in Mount Vernon, and learned the cabinet-maker's trade of his father, working with him until within ten months of his death. Since that time he has been an equal partner with his brother in the business. September 22, 1880, he married Mollie C. Keck, a native of the county: They have one child, Eliza C. John F. is a Republican and a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Charles, junior member of the firm, was born and raised in Mount Vernon, also. In 1880 he took his father's interest in the store, and he and his brother have conducted the business very successfully ever since. They have a select line of all kinds of furniture, and have a large and remunerative trade.
HENRY SCHNUR, SR., proprietor of the Bellville Roller Grist-mills, of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Hesse Darm- stadt, Germany, December 6, 1825, and is the youngest in a fam- ily of five children born to George Henry and Catherine Schnur, who were natives of the same country. The father was a brewer and distiller in his native land, and came to the United States with his family in 1838, and located in Marrs Township, Posey Co., Ind., where he followed the life of a farmer. His death oc- curred in 1852 or 1853, and the mother's in 1840. Henry's English education is. quite limited, but he acquired a fair knowl- edge of German before coming to this country. At the age of nineteen he began farming on land given him by his father. He farmed here successfully until 1874, when he came to Mount Vernon and engaged in the grist-milling business, which occupa- tion he has followed ever since with good success. His mill, which was of the old stone buhr pattern, he had remodeled in 1884-85, putting in the new improved rollers, and now does a large business. June 17, 1848, he married Louisa Bodemer, a native of Germany. They have five sons and two daughters living, and nine children who are dead. Mr. Schnur is a Republican, and he and wife are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church.
OSCAR T. SCHULTZ, M. D., of Mount Vernon, Ind., springs from a family whose, members have for three centuries back been either physicians, or have held prominent offices of trust in church or state in Silesia, Prussia. The only surviving
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relative in Germany is an uncle, Sanitaets-Rath, Dr. Robert Schultz, of Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Prussia. Our subject was born near Breslau, November 9, 1848, and is the eldest son of Theodore and Henrietta (Weber) Schultz. The father came with his family to the United States in 1853, and located first in New York City, but after two years residence in that place, removed West and located at Evansville, Ind., where he still re- sides engaged in the practice of medicine. Oscar T. received his education in the public schools of Evansville, graduating from the high school in 1866, and in the fall of that year went to Owensboro, Ky., and began keeping a private school. From 1868 to 1874 he was superintendent of German in the public schools of Evansville, or of Owensboro. During this time he perfected his general education, and began the study of medicine under the tutelage of his father while at Evansville, and Dr. C. H. Dodd, a prominent physician of Owensboro. February 26, 1875, he graduated in medicine from the Hospital College of medi- cine at Louisville, Ky., at the head of his class. April 17, 1875, he came to Mount Vernon, Ind., where he has since resided, and by professional ability and close application to business, he has succeeded in establishing a large and remunerative practice, second to none in the city or county. May 9, 1876, he married Louisa, daughter of John Pfeffer, whose sketch appears in this work. To their union six children were born, four of whom are living: Oscar J. T., Rudolph R., E. Erwin and Fredericka Vera. The Doctor is a Republican and Mason, and a member of the Harugari order. He and family are prominent members of the German Evangelical Trinity Church. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and vice-president of the Posey County Medical Society. He is medical examiner for a number of life insurance companies, and until August, 1885, was United States pension examining surgeon for Posey County. The Doctor is an active medical writer, and is the author of several very im- portant medical articles. He is the owner of the mound farm on the Wabash River, a very beautiful and fertile farm of 620 acres. It takes its name from a natural mound which was the only land on the lower Wabash that remained unsubmerged during the floods of 1883-84.
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JOHN L. SHORE is a son of William and Mary (Jeffries) Shore, who were born in North Carolina. The father came to Indiana in 1847, and located in Rush County. In 1848 they removed to Hancock County where the mother died in 1855, and where the father still resides. John L. was born in Rush Coun- ty, Ind., August 8, 1848, but was raised on a farm in Hancock County, where he secured a fair education in the common branches. He followed the profession of teaching there for one year. At the age of twenty-one years he began learning telegraphy and fol- lowed this profession in the employ of the South Eastern Rail- road (now Louisville & Nashville), until 1874, when he came to Mount Vernon and worked for three years at the same business. In 1876 he engaged in the coal business, and has continued at that ever since. In the spring of 1883, he began buying and sel- ling lumber with Dr. G. R. Peckinpaugh as partner, and the firm now do a thriving business. June 13, 1876, he was married to Sue Beauchamp, a native of Kentucky. They have one child, a son, named William B. Mr. Shore is a Mason and Democrat, and is considered one of the prominent business men of the town, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES SMITH, SR., is one of seven children born to Ja- cob and Catharine (Schefer) Smith. The parents were native born Germans, and lived and died in their mother country. The for- mer's death occurred in 1848, and the latter's in 1828. Of this an- cestry was born the subject of our sketch. In 1821, when twenty- eight years old, he came with his wife and five children to America. They located first in White County, Ill., where they remained five years and then came to Mount Vernon. Two years later he pur- chased and began operating a saw-mill, continuing there until the spring of 1884, when it caught fire and was consumed, being with- out insurance. He, however, rebuilt the mill and has since been very prosperous. The firm is now Charles Smith & Sons. In 1842 he was married to Catharine Leicht. The result of this union is eight children: Catharine, Charles, Frederick, Lena, Charles August, William, Louis and Caroline. Mr. Smith has always been a Republican. His son Charles was born in Ger- many, in 1844, and was married, January 7, 1869, to Lizzette Armsbruster. They have seven living children: Ardella M.,
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Charles, William, Frederick, Ira C., Winona A. and an infant about six months old. Charles, Jr., is also a Republican.
ELLWOOD SMITH, dentist, of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Pike County, September 12, 1845, and is one of two surviving members of a family of seven children, born to Warren and Nar- cissa (Traylor) Smith, natives respectively of Indiana and South Carolina. Our subject was raised in Princeton, Gibson Co., Ind,, and secured a common school education. He began life for him- self, clerking in stores, and followed that occupation in Princeton and Missouri for several years. At the age of twenty-two he began the study of dentistry under Dr. L. H. Pumphrey, of Princeton, and remained with him over two years. In 1870 he came to Mount. Vernon, and was in the employ of Dr. J. W. Hollingsworth, for some time, but bought out his employer the latter part of the same year and has since conducted the business in a highly successful manner. He gives considerable attention to fine stock raising, making a specialty of Jersey cattle, Berkshire and Jersey Red hogs, and also raises fine poultry. He has a small tract of land in the northeastern part of the city where he has a live stock ex- change building. In 1873 he was united in matrimony to Kittie Barter. They have four children: Katie Louise, Ethelda, Ell- wood and Frank Folsetter. The Doctor is a Mason, and a Repub- lican in politics, and was mayor of Mount Vernon from 1882 to 1884.
FRANK SMITH, a prominent grocery merchant at Mouut Vernon, Ind., and a native of Posey County, was born November 9, 1845, being one of two living members of a family of fourteen children born to Michael and Christina (Fassbender) Smith, na- tives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1836 and located first in New Orleans, and in 1838 came to Posey County and began farming in Robb Township. He farmed there and in Harmony Townships until his death in the latter township in 1879. The mother died in 1847. He then lived with his mother's sister, and was raised in Louisiana and Florida, and se- cured a good education in New Orleans and Key West. He clerked in his brother's grocery store in New Orleans, and at the age of sixteen years he went with his aunt to Germany, and attended school about five years in Speirs on the Rhine, and in Heidelburg, In 1865 he returned to the United States and located in Posey
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County, Ind., at New Harmony, where he engaged in the dry goods business with Fretageot, Son & Thrall, as clerk, and after- ward worked for Ford & Filton. In 1872 he came to Mount Vernon and clerked in various dry goods and grocery stores until July, 1885, when he engaged in the grocery and queensware business for himself, carrying a full and select line of goods, and commands a large share of the trade of town and county. In 1867 he mar- ried Catherine Beckley, a native of Germany. They have five children living: Frank M., Walter T., Morris F., Henry, Horace C., Anna E. and Martin W. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and a Ma- son, and a wide-awake and prosperous business man of Mount Veruon. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
DR. RICHARD SMYTH is a native of Ireland, where he was born April 28, 1830. He is one of fourteen children born to the marriage of Thomas and Susan (Dudgeon) Smyth, who were natives of the same place and came to the United States in 1839. They located on a farm in Gibson County, Ind., where the father died a few years later. Our subject was raised on the home farm and secured a good education in the Princeton Schools. When sixteen years old, he went to Evansville and began clerking in a drug store in order to secure means to obtain a medical education. He attended the Evansville Medical College in this manner and graduated in 1852. He located in Wadesville, Ind., the same year where he practiced medicine until 1864, and then returned to Gibson County and practiced at Princeton until 1878, when his health failed him and he removed to Kansas. In 1881 he returned to Posey County and has since practiced his profession in Mount Vernon, and has met with marked success. The Doctor was first married to Jane Hunter in 1853, but she died about a year later. In 1834 he married Maria E. Pitts, his present wife. They have five children-two sons and three daughters. He is Independent in politics and has been a Mason and Odd Fellow,. but is not a member of any lodge at present.
ALBERT A. SPARKS, editor and prop letor of the Mount Vernon Democrat, was born in Clay Village, Shelby Co., Ky., February 22, 1855, and is the next oldest in a family of three sons and one daughter born to the marriage of Walter J. Sparks and Eliza A. Terrell, natives of Louisville and Hancock County, Ky.,
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respectively. Our subject was raised in Shelbyville, Ky., secur- ing an ordinary English education. At the age of twelve years he began learning the printer's trade which he mastered after a four years' apprenticeship with the Shelby Sentinel. He then went to Louisville, Ky., and worked on the Evening News of that city two and a half years, and later for a short time on the Courier-Journal. In 1873 he came to Evansville, Ind., and was employed as com- positor on the Journal of that city. He then went to New Orleans, La., and was employed in the office of the New Orleans Times and also the Democrat, for about two years. In 1877 he returned to Evansville and accepted a position on the Courier-Journal, re- maining there two years, when he came to Mount Vernon and purchased the Democrat, which he has since conducted in an able manner. Mr. Sparks is, as his paper implies, an unswerving Democrat and advocates the principles of that party through the columns of his paper in a bold and fearless manner. He was appointed postmaster at Mount Vernon, Monday, November 2, 1885, and entered upon his duties November 16, 1885. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. In February, 1879, he was married to Henrietta (Winings) Roche, daughter of Dr. Moses Winings, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. She has two sons by her first marriage named Peter W. and John D. Roche.
EDWIN V. SPENCER, M. D., of Mount Vernon, Ind., is a son of Matthias and Harriett (Smith) Spencer, natives respect- ively of Connecticut and Vermont. The father who was an edge- tool maker by trade, located in Warren County, Penn., after mar- riage, and then followed his trade five or six years, meeting with the best of success. He then invested in a large tract of land in Erie County, and there spent the remainder of his days. Edwin V., the subject of this sketch, was born in Warren County, Penn., October 9, 1825, and is one of a family of nine children. He. was reared to man's estate in his native county, where he secured a fair literary education and attended the academy at Sherburne, N. Y. When nineteen years old he began the study of medicine with the view to making it a profession. He attended the Cleve- land, Ohio, Medical College, and graduated from that institution in 1851. In the spring of 1852 he came to Posey County, Ind:, where he has for over thirty years continually practiced his pro-
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fession. He is one of the most successful practitioners of south- ern Indiana, and is one of the men who have helped make the county what it is. In February, 1852, he married his present wife, Sarah J. Baxter, a native of Erie County, Penn. They be- came the parents of eight children, five of whom are living: Harriett (the wife of J. D. Brown), Edwin V., Jessie (the widow of John Rosenkrans), George W. and Guy. Mr. Spencer's polit- ical views are Democratic. He is a member of the Indiana State and Posey County Medical Societies.
ELIJAH M. SPENCER, attorney at law, of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Erie County, Penn., December 6, 1831, and is the next youngest of a family of seven sons born to the marriage of Matthias Spencer and Harriett D. Smith, natives, respectively, of East Hadam, Conn., and Montpelier, Vt. The father, who was a local Methodist Episcopal minister, immigrated from Con- necticut to Sherburne, N. Y., when he was a young man. Here he married, and a few years later moved to Pennsylvania, being one of the first settlers of that part of the State. Some years later he removed to Erie County, where he spent the remainder of his days, following his chosen calling. He was an edge-tool mechanic and blacksmith by trade, and followed these occupa- tions and farming with good success. He was born in Novem- ber, 1795, and died in May, 1883. The mother died in April, 1879, in her seventy-ninth year. Our subject was raised in his native county, and secured a very fair education. When eighteen years old he began teaching school, in order to secure means to obtain a collegiate education. The following year he entered Alleghany College, at Meadsville, Penn., and alternately studied and taught school until he graduated from the institution, June 28, 1855. He then came to Rising Sun, Ind., and read law one year, having given it considerable study while yet in college. In 1856 he was nominated by the Democrats for prosecuting at- torney of that district, but declined the nomination. In July, of the same year, he came to Mount Vernon, and at the October election he was elected prosecuting attorney for the district com- posing Posey and Gibson Counties, serving two years. He then continued the practice of his profession uninterruptedly and with good success until 1861, when he was elected to the State Legis- lature, serving in the sessions of 1862-63-64. Since that time
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he has practically retired from public life, and has devoted his entire time and attention to a large and remunerative law prac- tice and the management of his farms in the country. He has been more than ordinarily successful in the latter enterprise, and owns over 2,000 acres of good farming land in the county, 1,500 of which are under cultivation. November 17, 1860, he married Mary Morse, a native of Summit County, Ohio. They are the parents of these children: Charles M., John W., Frank B., Mary E., Estelle and Elijah M. Mr. Spencer has always been an un- swerving Democrat in politics. He is a Mason, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is recognized as one of the leading men of the county, and is esteemed and honored by all who know him. 1
CHARLES SPRINGER, citizen of Mount Vernon, was born near Breslau, Prussia, November 6, 1829, and is a son of Charles and Caroline (Rohleder) Springer, who were natives of the same country. Charles secured a fair German education, and after learning the cabinet-maker's trade came to the United States in 1853, landing in New Orleans. Four months later he came to Evansville, Ind., where he worked at the pattern-maker's trade until 1860. He then came to Mount Vernon and worked in the saw-mill business, and has followed that occupation very success- fully ever since. In 1857 he married Elizabeth Hallenberger, a native of the same country as himself. They became the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living: Charles, Henry, Eliz- abeth, George, Mary, Eddie, Joseph, Matilda and Frank. Mr. Springer's political views are Republican. He is a Mason, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are much respected by their neighbors and friends.
GILBERT TEMPLETON may be mentioned as one of Posey County's most prominent farmers and citizens. He is a native of the county, born January 30, 1820, and a son of Samuel and Sarah (Curtis) Templeton. The father was born in South Caro- lina in 1792, a tanner by trade, and followed that occupation the greater part of his life. At the time of his death (1872) he was a resident of Black Township. His wife was born in North Car- olina in 1795 and died in 1870. Our subject was reared at home and received a common school education. He remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age, when he began working
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for himself. April 8, 1847, he married Desire, daughter of Elisha and Elicila Philips. She was born August 12, 1827, and died September 1, 1885, having borne seven children: Sarah, Armenias, Jennie and Frederick, living, and Mary, Thomas and Eva, de- ceased. Mr. Templeton is in every sense of the word a self-made man. He started in life with no capital except his hands and boundless energy, and now owns 275 acres of very fine land in Black Township and 100 acres in Point Township. He is a warm Republican and cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WORTH TEMPLETON, trustee of Black Township and na- tive of Posey County, Ind., was born April 4, 1857, son of Gilbert M. Templeton and Martha Jane (Holland) Templeton, natives of Posey County. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was raised and married and brought up his family in this county. He was a son of Thomas Templeton, one of the old pioneer settlers of the place, who came to Indiana from Virginia on the day of the battle of New Orleans. Our subject's father died when he was three years old, and he was then taken by his aunt, Mrs. James McGillton, with whom he lived until he was ten years old, and then went to live with a cousin, Gilbert Templeton. He remained with him until he was fifteen years old, and then worked as a farm laborer during the summer months and attended school during the winters, thus securing a fair education. When twenty-one years old he began farming for himself, but afterward sold his farm for town property. In 1884 he was elected to his present office. He is a Democrat in politics, but was elected to office rather as an independent, and was styled the tax-payer's candi- date. June 10, 1879, he married Sally Barter, a native of the county. They became the parents of two children, one deceased, and one living named Archie. Mr. Templeton is a member of the A. O. U. W. and K. of P. fraternities. He is a well known and respected citizen and a good officer.
CHRISTIAN F. TENTE, a prominent business man of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Westphalia, Prussia, August 19, 1833, and is the elder of two sons of Henry C. F. and Johanna M. Tente, who were born and raised in Prussia. Our subject was raised by his grandparents in his native country and secured a good high school education in his native language, and also learned
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some English. When about sixteen years old he began working in the postal department of his native country and later engaged in the mercantile business, continuing there until 1859, when he, with many others of his freedom loving countrymen, came to the United States. He worked as clerk for a dry goods firm in Louisville, Ky., and afterward traveled and became book-keeper for a wholesale liquor house. In 1864 he came to Mount Vernon and engaged in the grocery business with Charles Leunig. They remained partners in business about one and a half years and since that time Mr. Tente has carried on the business alone. He has met with well deserved success and has, by industry and bus- iness integrity, succeeded in establishing a large trade. He car- ries a full and select stock of general groceries and queensware, and is also engaged in retailing liquors. In 1866 he married his present wife, Bertha A. Leunig. They became the parents of seven children: Emma (the wife of Leroy M. Wade), Gustav H., Otto H., Hattie, Frederick W., Anna M. and John W. Mr. Tente's political views are Democratic. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Masonic and Harugari fraternities. He and wife are worthy members of the Evangelical Association.
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