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 46
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HON. GEORGE W. THOMAS, SR., a prominent pioneer citizen of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Tennessee, March 22, 1813. He is one of a family of five sons and three daughters (two sons and one daughter are now living) born to James and Mary (Eblin) Thomas, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respect- ively. The father came from Tennessee to Indiana Territory in 1814 and located on a tract of land two miles west of where Mount Vernon now is, and a year or so later removed to what is now Lynn Township. Here he farmed very successfully until his death in 1854. The mother died there fifteen years previously. Our subject secured such education as could be obtained in the early subscription schools of his boyhood days, and on attaining his majority he began farming and milling for himself, running both saw and grist-mill and also flat-boated on the river. He re- mained in Lynn Township until 1855, when he came to Mount Ver- non and engaged in the wharf-boating business, which he has con- ducted successfully ever since. He has also been interested in steam-boating, having owned an interest in the "Robert Mitchell" and "West Wind." He also built and ran the "G. W. Thomas."
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December 25, 1834, he married Anna L. Noel, a native of Ohio. They have raised eight children to maturity: Cornelia (wife of Capt. A. M. Dusouchet), Enoch E., Cyrus, O. (deceased), Vic- toria (wife of William Reeves), Alonzo J. (deceased), Virginia (widow of F. A. Pentecost), Aaron J. (deceased ) and George W. Mr. Thomas' political views have always been Democratic. He was elected by his party to the State Legislature in 1849, and served until 1850. He held the posistion of county recorder from 1864 to 1868. He is a Mason of long standing and is among the leading business men of Posey County. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM W. TRAFFORD, is one of seven children born to Edmund and Nancy (Applegate) Trafford, who were natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. The father followed the occupation of farming all his life and at an early day came to Kentucky where he remained but a short time. He then came to Indiana in 1818, and located in Posey County on a farm of eighty acres, where he remained until his death in 1826. The mother was born July 11, 1792, and died March 9, 1858. The subject of our sketch made his home with his people until he attained his majority when he commenced working for himself. At the age of twenty-two years he purchased a farm of eighty acres and has kept adding to this until he now owns 775 acres of land, 220 acres of which are in Illinois. He is a stanch Republican in politics and his first vote was for Lewis Cass. He has always prospered in his undertakings and is one of the county's best citizens.
PHILIP TRAUDT and John Pfeffer are the proprietors of the Favorite Grist-mills of Mount Vernon, Ind. The busi- ness was established in 1861, by Fuhs, Pfeffer & Dieterle, who carried on the business until 1868, when Mr. Fuhs died and Philip Traudt purchased a one-third interest. Mr. Dieterle with- drew in 1877 and the business has been conducted by its present proprietors since that time. In 1883 they were running five set of buhrs, but added four sets of new improved rolls and now have a capacity of 150 barrels per day, and employ six men besides themselves. Philip Traudt was born in the province of Hesse Cassel, Prussia, October 5, 1845, and is the youngest of eleven children born to Coonrod and Elizabeth (Fuhs) Traudt. They lived and died in the old country. Philip received a very good
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German education and learned the milling business of his father. In 1865 he came to the United States in the milling busi- ness as employe in the city of New York. In 1868 he came West and located at Mount Vernon and engaged in this present business in which he has remained ever since, meeting with good success. In 1868 he married Christina Fuhs, a native of Ger- many. They have no children of their own but have an adopted daughter, Katharine. Mr. Traudt is a Republican and was a member of the city council two terms. He is a Mason and a member of the Harugari order. He and wife are members of the Trinity Church and he is one of Posey County's most enter- prising and successful business men.
LEROY M. WADE, deputy prosecuting attorney for Posey County, Ind., a native of the county, was born August 22, 1862, the eldest of six children born to George W. and Zereldia (Will- iams) Wade, natives respectively of Ohio and this county. The father came to Posey County in 1850 and located on a farm near Cynthiana, where he has since resided. Leroy M., remained with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the Valparaiso Normal School and graduated in the teacher's course in 1880. He then returned home and fol- lowed the profession of teaching in his native township and Mount Vernon, being principal of the West Ward schools during 1883-84. In the meantime he had begun the study of law, with the intention of making it a profession, and read with Judge W. P. Edson, and was admitted to practice in November, 1883. In 1885 he established a law office in Mount Vernon and has since been satisfactorily engaged in the practice of his profession and attending to the duties of his office. July 12, 1885, he was married to Emma Tente, a native of Mount Vernon. Mr. Wade is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the political affairs of the county. He is a member of the Christian Church and a rising member of the legal profession. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.
PETER WALTER, proprietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel at Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Rhein Hessen; Germany, March 20, 1846, and is one of ten children born to Valentine and Bar- bara (Diefenbach) Walter, natives of Rhein Hessen and Rhenish Bavaria, Germany. The father died in our subject's birthplace
18
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in 1883. The mother still resides there. Peter received a very good German education, and after reaching the age of fifteen years began learning the confectioner's trade, which he mastered and followed in his native land until 1865. He then came to the United States and worked at his trade in Erie, Penn., and then on steam-boats plying on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In 1871 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and at a later date engaged in the confectionery and restaurant business in Uniontown, Ky., where he remained until 1874. He then worked at his trade in Erie, Penn., until 1878, and finally came to Mount Vernon where he worked at the same business with good success until Septem- ber 1, 1884. He then leased the St. Nicholas Hotel and has since kept a first-class house in every respect and controls a large share of the local and transient custom. In 1871 he was married to Margaret Moll. They have seven children: Henry, Charles, Martin, Edward, John, Frederick and Helena. Mr. Walter is a Democrat in politics.
CHARLES WASEM, a wide-awake business man of Mount Vernon, Ind., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born June 14, 1836, son of Karl and Mary Elizabeth (Roesel) Wasem, natives of the same country, where they now reside. Charles was raised in his native country and received a very good education in his native language. In 1858 he came to the United States and worked as a farm laborer in Ohio for over a year, and in 1859 came to Mount Vernon and engaged as a clerk in the grocery business for Andrew Glass, continuing with him until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted in the 100 days' service in 1864 and served his time of enlistment in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1865 he en- gaged in the retail liquor business here and continued until 1867, when he returned to Germany on a visit and remained there about six months. He then returned to Mount Vernon and re-en- gaged in the liquor business. In 1869 he built his present busi- ness block and has since conducted the business in a strictly first- class manner. He was married to Louisa Pretoreus, a native of Germany. They became the parents of one child (deceased). They have an adopted son named Harry. Mr. Wasem is a Republican in politics, a Mason and member of Harugari order. He and wife are members of the Trinity Church.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ANDREW WASEM, treasurer of Posey County, Ind., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born, November 20, 1849, son of Karl and Elizabeth (Roesel) Wasem, who were the parents of seven children, our subject being next to the youngest. Both parents are still living in Germany. Andrew was raised with his parents in his native country, and received the ordinary compulsory education. When thirteen years old he left home, and began learning the cabinet-maker's trade in one of the cities of Germany. At the end of four years he came to the United States and located in Mount Vernon, where he remained but a short time, and then went to St. Louis, and there followed his trade until 1869. He then worked at cabinet-making in Lonis- ville until 1870, and then returned to Mount Vernon, and worked as carpenter and millwright in George Wolfling & Co.'s distil- lery, until 1871. He clerked in Leuning &. Co.'s grocery store for two years, and when the company dissolved he entered into part- nership with Charles Leuning, continuing with him four years, and then retailed liquors until 1879. He and his brother, under- the firm name of C. & A. Wasem, began selling groceries ... They met with good success and continued together until Novem- ber, 1882, when Andrew was elected to his present position by the Democratic party, and was re-elected two years later, and is. now filling the duties of his responsible position ably and efficiently. November 21, 1872, he married Bertha Leuning, a. native of St. Louis, but of German extraction. They became the parents of four children: Oscar L. and Lulu C., now living .. Mr. Wasem has always been a Democrat in politics. He is a. Mason of the Royal Arch degree. He and wife were raised in the Lutheran faith, but are not members of any church. He is: an enterprising and prosperous citizen, and an affable and popn- lar official.
VINCENT WECKESSER, a wide-awake and popular gro- ceryman of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Konigshofen, Baden, Germany, January 29, 1833, and is one of seven children born to John Adam and Anna R. (Andres) Weckesser who were natives of the same country, where they lived and died. Vincent, our subject, was raised in his native land and obtained a fair Ger- man education in the schools of that country. When twenty-four years old he left home and friends and came to the United
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
States, locating in Dayton, Ohio, where he learned the cooper's trade. About two years later (1859) he came to Mount Vernon, where he plied his trade quite successfully for about three years. He then clerked in a hotel and saloon for some time, and in 1864 he and Frank Stoeckler formed a partnership and started a gro- cery and saloon, continuing together until 1881, when Mr. Weckesser assumed entire control of the business. He has met with the best of success, and carries a full and select stock of general groceries and queensware, and controls a large share of trade, in his line of business, in town and county. In 1866 he married Catherine Rickert. They are the parents of seven children-one son and six daughters. In politics Mr. Weck- esser is a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is one of the stockholders of the Inter- national Bank, and it may be truly said of him that he is essen- tially a self-made man. Starting in life with little or no capital, he has risen step by step, until he ranks among the highest in the county as a business man, and bears the respect and esteem of all who know him,
JOHN B. WEEVER, M. D., of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in the town of Hallowell, Me., September 25, 1836, being next eldest of seven children born to Charles S. and Mary T. (Trafton) Weever, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Maine. The father, who was a physician and surgeon, came to Indiana in 1837, and located at Evansville where he followed his profession successfully until 1850. He held the position of Professor of Anatomy in Evansville Medical College for one year, and then came to Mount Vernon, where he very soon had a large and lucrative practice. His death occurred April 21, 1861. The mother died in April, 1884. John B. was raised by his father, and secured the ordinary literary education to be obtained in the city schools. At an early age he began studying medicine under his father, and at the age of fourteen years attended a full course of lectures in Evansville Medical College. He continued an irregular course of study until he was nineteen years old, when he entered the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn., from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1858. He then came to Mount Vernon. and practiced with his father until the latter's death, when he assumed entire control of affairs, and
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now has the leading practice in Posey County, in which he has been very successful. In December, 1862, he married Emma J. Slocum, a native of Carmi, Ill. They became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Walter R., George S., and Paul S. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, but takes little part in political matters, devoting his entire time and atten- tion to his profession. He is a member of the American, State and County Medical Societies, and also of the American Public Health Association. He is a very successful practitioner, and one of Mount Vernon's most enterprising professional men.
HON. JOSEPH F. WELBORN may be mentioned among the representative men of Posey County, Ind. He was born in Guilford County, N. C., August 6, 1818, and in 1833 immigrated with his parents to Indiana, and located in Mount Vernon where the father worked for a number of years at wagon-making, and Joseph culti- vated a small farm near town until he attained his majority. He then removed to Robinson Township and engaged in stock rais- ing and farming, meeting with good success. He gave especial attention to fine stock and acquired the reputation of being an excellent judge of horses and hogs. In 1844 he married Nancy Mills, whose father was a prominent and early settler of the coun- ty. In 1856 Mr. Welborn rented his farm and came to Mount Vernon where he engaged in the pork packing business in connec- tion with William Lowry. In 1872 he, in company with some other prominent men, established the Mount Vernon Banking Company, and he was chosen president. In 1858 he was elected county treasurer for two years, and in 1876 was nominated by the Democrats for representative to the Legislature, and was elected by a large majority. He was for fifteen years chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, and was a delegate to Chicago in 1864, when George B. McClellan was nominated for the presiden- cy. Since his retirement from the Mount Vernon Banking Com- pany, Mr. Welborn has given his entire time and attention to deal- ing in real estate and farm land. He owns about 2,000 acres of the very choicest land in the county, nearly all being improved by tile ditching and other improvements. He has given much time and attention to aid in the extension of railroads, and his name will ever be mentioned with feelings of pride and respect.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
ASA C. WILLIAMS, son of Urbane and Nancy (Johnson) Williams, is the fifth in a family of twelve children, and was born October 20, 1818, in Nelson County, Ky. His parents were natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. They were married in Kentucky and came to Indiana in March, 1828, locat- ing near Stewartsville, in Posey County on a farm where they lived about two years. They then purchased a tract of land in Har- mony Township, which they cleared and improved, undergoing all the hardships incident to pioneer life. The fathers death oc- curred June 25, 1848. The mother died in February, 1845. Asa C. secured an ordinary education by limited attendance each year in the primitive log schoolhouse, common to the frontier. At the age of twenty-one, he began farming for himself in Harmony Township, and in 1842 he moved to Lynn (now Centre) Town- ship, where he purchased his first piece of land (forty acres). In 1847 he removed to the farm where he now lives. Here he raised his family and farmed very successfully, accumulating over a sec- tion of land. November 17, 1867, he came to Mount Vernon, being a stockholder of the First National Bank, and has given his time and attention to this business ever since. He was vice-presi- dent of the bank a number of years, and was afterward elected president in 1873, which position lie now holds. January 28, 1840, he married Dicy Cox, a native of the county who died August 29, 1844, having borne three children, one now living named Martha, the wife of Charles Hayes. July 17, 1845, he married his present wife, Anna Gwaltney, a native of Posey Coun- ty, and daughter of Benjamin Gwaltney, a pioneer citizen of the county. By this last marriage Mr. Williams became the father of three living children: Dicy (wife of John W. Cartwright), John T. and Stephen Jett. Mr. Williams has always been a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Van Buren in 1840. He served as county commissioner from 1858 to 1864, and has held other offices of trust, such as township trustee, etc. He has prob- ably settled up more estates in Posey County than any other one resident. Mr. Williams is not a member of any church, yet he attends the Baptist Church regularly and contributes largely to its support. He is recognized as one of Mount Vernon's most influential citizens, and is a man worthy the esteem of all.
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DR. MOSES WINNINGS, deceased, was born in Westmore- land County, Penn., July 1, 1799. March 1, 1828, he was mar- ried to Eliza Anable, who died August 2, 1828. For his second wife, he took Avarilla Baker, who was born in Kentucky, January 12, 1814, and died March 27, 1864, leaving five children: Mrs. . Mary James, of Evansville; Mrs. Henrietta Sparks, wife of A. A. Sparks; Mrs. Kate Humphrey, widow of Capt. S. H. Humphrey; Mrs. Tillie Rodecker, wife of Dr. C. W. Rodecker, and Benjamin L. Winnings. Dr. Winnings came to Evansville in 1850, and resided in that place two years when he removed to Mount Ver- non, where he lived forty-five years. His death occurred July 25, 1876.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
HARMONY TOWNSHIP.
BENJAMIN M. BAILEY was born in Posey County, Ind., February 22, 1832. He is a son of John A. and Cynthia (Stal- lings) Bailey, and is of English descent. His father was born at Princeton, Ky., in 1806, and his mother in Posey County, Ind., in 1808. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on the farm, and in attendance at the common schools. In 1854 he went to California and worked in the mines one and a half years, on a farm the same length of time, and was then engaged in the stock business three years. In 1860 he returned to Indiana, and on the breaking out of the war enlisted in Company A, Ninety- first Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years or during the war. He was present at the battles of Atlanta, Marietta, Pine Mountain, Nashville, and other places. He was wounded at Pine Mountain, and was honorably discharged, as orderly sergeant, in July, 1865. Since this time he has been engaged in farming. In 1871 he purchased his present farm, and now owns 220 acres of fine land well improved. Mr. Bailey is a self-made man, hav- ing risen from nothing to a comfortable competency. He is a man of superior judgment, was a good soldier, and is a leading citizen. He is a representative of one of the early pioneer fam- ilies of the county, and is a Republican in politics. He was married December 28, 1865, to Miss Susan Stallings, daughter of William and Mary A. Stallings. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have three children: John W., born in 1867; William L., born in 1869, and Franklin, born in 1879.
CAPT. JOSEPH A. BARRETT, farmer, a son of Nathaniel and Nancy (Rosberry) Barrett, was born in Smith Township, Posey County, Ind., May 12, 1837, and is of Irish and French descent. His father was born in Westmoreland County, Va., September 9, 1805, and his mother in Tennessee in 1807. His paternal grandfather, George A. Barrett, was a native of Vir- ginia. The Barrett family came to this county in 1816, and set-
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tled in what is now Robb Township. There the father died in 1871 and the mother in 1881. The early life of the subject of this sketch was mainly spent upon the farm. He enlisted Sep- tember 15, 1861, in Company B, Sixtieth Indiana Volunteers, and was commissioned second lieutenant September 6, 1862. In February following he was commissioned first lieutenant, and in April, 1863, was made captain of the company. This position he occupied until March, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged. At Mumfordsville, Ky., he was taken prisoner, and was retained a prisoner of war two months. After the war he resumed farming, and settled where he now lives seven years ago, where he owns 128 acres of good farming land. He is a self- made man; is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active part in political affairs. He was elected justice of the peace in 1872, and served as such eight years. In 1882 he was a candidate for the nomination for sheriff, and was beaten by only one vote in the convention. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Kissiah Stall- ings, by whom he has five children, viz .: Lewis, Emma, Morris, Walter and Bertha.
FRANK D. BOLTON, postmaster, New Harmony, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hodgson) Bolton, was born in Cincin- nati, Ohio, December 15, 1823. He is of Scotch and English extraction. His father was born at Bolton, England, in 1798, and came to America in 1815, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained there until 1826. He then came by flat-boat to Mount Vernon, this county, and overland to New Harmony, where he died in 1870. His mother, who was born in 1800, died in 1844. The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent in attend- ance upon the public schools, and in working at a carding machine. He then clerked in a store, and in a bank, and subse- quently began the manufacture of carriages, which he continued for about six years. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Sixtieth Indiana Infantry, and served two years, during which time he was at the battle of Vicksburg and at Arkansas Post. At first he was appointed commissary-sergeant, and subsequently promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. He was discharged in June, 1863, on account of physical disability. In 1870 he was elected county auditor of Posey County, serving for four years. In 1880 he was elected township trustee of Harmony Township,
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
and re-elected in 1882. In August, 1885, he was commissioned postmaster of New Harmony. He is a representative of one of the early families of Posey County; in 1852 he was made a member of the I. O. O. F., and he is an ardent and hard-working Democrat, always taking a deep interest in the success of his party. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Mary B. Pooley, a na- tive of Louisville, Ky., by whom he has had four children, only one of whom is living, viz .: Nora, now Mrs. Homer Lichten- berger.
JACOB BREITH, dealer in drugs and family groceries, was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 15, 1828, and is a son of Frank and Margaret (Heldebrand) Breith, who were the parents of twelve children. His father was also a native of Germany, a shoe-maker by trade, and served four years in the Bavarian Army. His mother was also of German nativity, both lived and died in their native land. The only education received by our subject was when he was very young. When he was nine years old his father began teaching him the trade of a shoe-maker,at which he worked until arriving at his majority, when according to the law of his country he began serving the regular term of five years in the Bavarian Army. He immigrated to America in 1854, landing at New Orleans, coming up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Evansville, thence to Posey County, and settling at Stewartsville. For about [two years he worked by the day on the farm at 50 cents per day, and then began the shoe-maker's trade at Stewarts- ville, where he continued working at his trade until 1870, since which time he has been a resident of New Harmony. For a short time he continued working at his trade in this place. In 1873 he engaged in the grocery business; in 1876 moved to his present place of business, and the same year added a stock of drugs. He was married, March 1, 1854, to Miss Saloma Shifar, also a native of Germany. Of fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Breith, only three survive: Elizabeth, Caroline and Eleanora. At the time of their marriage they were too poor to buy a bed- stead and for six weeks had to sleep on the floor, but by energy, economy and hard labor they have made a comfortable living. In politics Mr. Breith is a Democrat, and withal an estimable and worthy citizen.
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