USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana > Part 29
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Elijah M. Spencer, deceased, formerly a prominent attorney of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1831, the seventh son of Mathias and Harriet (Smith) Spencer, natives of Con- necticut, the father born November 15, 1795, and the mother born April 23, 1796, and died April 9, 1874. The parents were farmers. They were married in 1818, and had eight sons: William D., born March 5, 1819, died May 7, 1858; Daniel S., born April 5, 1820, now deceased ; John W., born February 24, 1823, died March 15, 1859; Dr. Edwin V., born October 9, 1825, died May 28, 1902; Henry A., born August 29, 1828, died January 21, 1888; Harvey H., born June 12, 1830, died February 13, 1831 ; Elijah M., born December 6, 1831, died October 3, 1912; George W., born August 9, 1835, now a retired farmer of Corey, Pa. Elijah M. Spencer was a graduate of the Allegheny College, of Meadville, Pa., and came to Mt. Vernon in July, 1856, where he was an active and successful lawyer all his life. At the time of his death, October 3, 1912, he was the oldest member of the Posey County Bar Association, and that fraternity adopted elaborate resolutions of respect. He was an ex- tensive owner of real estate and had retired in 1906 after fifty years of law practice. In politics Mr. Spencer was a Democrat and represented Posey county in the State legislature for two terms, beginning in 1865. He was very active in law making, was a member of several important commit- tees and author of several successful measures, which today stand as monuments to his memory. He served for a time as county attorney. Mr. Spencer was public spirited and liberal, and the last check he issued before his death was a large donation to the Presbyterian church, of which his wife and daughters are active members. He was very highly respected in the community in which he for so many years was a substan- tial and dependable citizen. Elijah Spencer was married November 15,
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1860 at Akron, Ohio, to Miss Mary E. Morse, daughter of Huron and Alethia (Ives) Morse. Mrs. Spencer was born December 27, 1839, in Port- age county, Ohio. Her father was born July 29, 1807, and died June 16, 1885, and her mother, born April 30, 1810, died March 20, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Huron Morse had four children: Laura A., born August 12, 1833, died May 24, 1901 ; Lucy H., born July 9, 1835, died October 26, 1894; Charles R., born October 14, 1837, died April 9, 1905 ; Mary E., born De- cember 27, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah M. Spencer had six children: CharlesM., born November 21, 1861, lawyer and assistant State auditor, Indianapolis ; John W., born March 7, 1864, now chief justice of the State Supreme Court; Frank B., born August 12, 1868, died June 17, 1892; Mary A., born November 29, 1870, now the wife of Allyn B. Hart, su- perintendent of ice company, Mt. Vernon ; Stella I., born March 19, 1873, was the wife of Arthur E. Fretageot, a merchant of New Harmony, died August 22, 1913, leaving one daughter, Mary, eight years old ; Elijah M., born March 19, 1876.
George L. Hoehn, of Hoehn & Howard, real estate and insurance, Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Harmony township, February 8, 1856. He is a son of Blasius and Josephine (Pfister) Hoehn, both natives of Germany, and also settled in Posey county in 1853. The father died in Lynn township in 1869, aged forty-eight, and the mother passed away in 1875, aged fifty years. George L. Hoehn was educated in the public schools, and took a commercial course. He engaged in the grocery business and later learned the tinner's trade. In 1887 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, serving in that capacity until 1895, when he was elected county treasurer, and served until 1900. For a time he was engaged in the grocery business, and in 1908 formed the present partner- ship with Mr. Howard. Mr. Hoehn was married October 8, 1890, to Miss Margaret Deig, of Marrs township. They have one child, Raymond L. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of St. John and is a Democrat.
William Degress Bennett .- In the development of the agricultural re- sources of Posey county, which has resulted in her fame as a corn pro- ducing district, opportunity has been offered to many not only to cause the dense woodland to bloom with waving grain, to realize substantial returns in a financial way, but to become leaders and teachers among their fellow men. Among those who have been active in the develop- ment of Point township from the time of the removal of the forests to the present is numbered the subject of this review. William D. Ben- nett is a native of Kentucky and was born near Bell's Coal Mine, Crit- tendon county, March 1, 1857, a son of James Madison and Mary E. (Humphreys) Bennett, both of whom were born in Tennessee. The Ben- nett family are of English ancestry. Prior to the War of the Revo- lution, three brothers, Nicholas L., Walker Marion and Emory Hughes Bennett, immigrated to the Virginia colony, and subsequently all three
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served in the Continental Line in the struggle which resulted in the for- mation of the Union. These brothers were the founders of the family in America. William D. Bennett is the fourth in descent from Emory Hughes Bennett, the Revolutionary soldier, which is as follows: Emory Hughes Bennett, born in England, resident of Virginia colony, a soldier of the Colonial army; Emory Hughes Bennett, Jr., his son, plantation owner of Tennessee (2) ; Emory Hughes Bennett, second, his son, born in Tennessee, resident of Kentucky and an early settler in Point town- ship, Posey county, a blacksmith by trade, and father of our subject (3). He was born near Nashville, on December II, 1834. He served with Morgan's force in the Civil war, was captured by the Union forces, and remained a prisoner at Chicago for twenty-two months, refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Union in order to secure his release. On the conclusion of hostilities he followed his trade of blacksmith, locating . in Kentucky, and came to Posey county in 1875. With his son, William D., he bought 100 acres of land, at that time covered with forest. The tract was located in Point township, and is a part of the farm now owned by our subject. The elder Bennett followed his trade until his death, and the shop was operated for some years afterward by his son. He married when a young man, Mary E. Humphrey, a native of Tennessee, and whose father was a plantation owner and man of influence. The family originated in England, was founded in America during the Colo- nial period, and several members were active supporters of the move- ment which resulted in independence and served as well with the Colonial forces. Mr. Bennett's death occurred on December 28, 1887, and that of his wife on May 20, 1902. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : William D .; Jane Anne, wife of Jeremiah Kelley, a veteran of the Civil war, and resident of Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Kelley died in 1891 ; Emory Hughes Bennett, a retired farmer of Mt. Vernon; Fannie M., wife of Walter A. Curtis, farmer of Point township; John K. Bennett, farmer of Point township, and Walker Marion Bennett, also a farmer of Point township. William D. Bennett attended the country schools of his na- tive State, the time spent in securing an education being very limited. From his father he learned the trade of blacksmithing, which he followed both in Kentucky and Indiana. Upon his coming to Posey county, in 1875, when, with his father, he purchased a tract of timber land, much of his time was spent in clearing the tract for farming purposes. The hardships incident to reaching the goal-a producing farm-were many; privations equally plenty, but he had the pluck, courage and energy necessary to win out. His farm, one of the most productive ones per acre in his township, is the return for many years of hard labor, privation and possibly some loss of enthusiasm. His holdings comprise 130 acres. The improvements are substantial, the farm well stocked and its owner is considered one of the successful men of his township, as well as one
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of the most influential. He has been a lifelong Democrat, is active in the affairs of that organization in his district, but not inclined to accept office. He is a member of Point Lodge, No. 779, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a liberal supporter of the Methodist church. Mr. Bennett married, on April 3, 1887, Louisa, the daughter of the late Henry Heinekamp, a native of Germany, and a carpenter by trade and a resident of Mt. Vernon. He was accidentally killed on March 26, 1889, by being thrown from his wagon, which ran over him. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are the parents of the following children: Annie Christina, Cora Elgin, Emory Hughes, and George Washington. One child, a son, died in infancy.
John Keck, manufacturer and man of affairs, president of the Keck- Gonnerman Company, of Mt. Vernon, and one of the most influential men in Posey county, of which he is a native, was born on his father's farm in Marrs township on August 7, 1851, the son of Andrew and Ro- sanna (Grossman) Keck. Andrew Keck and his wife were natives of Germany, who came to America with their parents and lived in Phila- delphia, Pa., where they married. He brought his family to Posey county, Indiana, in 1835, and located on land in Marrs township. He was a farmer, an untiring worker, possessed the frugality common to the Ger- man race, and was known as a man of strict honesty. His death oc- curred in 1876, and that of his wife in 1861. They were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living. They are in order of birth, as follows: Caroline, the wife of Christian C. Stilz, a market gardener of Evansville; Anna B., the widow of Jacob Meyers, who resides in Portland, Ore .; Rosanna, the widow of John C. Woody, who resides in Terre Haute; Christiana, the wife of J. F. Schiela, of Mt. Vernon ; John, the subject of this review; Peter, of Mt. Vernon, proprietor of an elec- trical equipment supply store, and Louis H., secretary and treasurer of the Keck-Gonnerman Company, of Mt. Vernon. The deceased children are as follows: Maria, who was the wife of George Maurer, a farmer of Marrs township; Amelia, who married Henry Habenicht, a grocer of Evansville; Andrew, a drygoods merchant of Evansville; Eliza, who was the wife of Benjamin Blakely, of Mt. Vernon, and Catherine, who died in her eighteenth year. John Keck was reared on his father's farm, assisted in the farm work, and acquired his education in the district schools of his home township and Evansville. On attaining his ma- jority, he struck out for himself, secured employment in Evansville, and became a machinist. He initiated his first business venture in 1877, when he purchased a half interest in the foundry owned by his brother- in-law, John C. Woody, at Mt. Vernon. The business was conducted under the firm name of Woody & Keck until 1883, when it became Keck & Onk, this partnership continuing for a few months, when new prin- cipals were admitted and the firm, Keck, Gonnerman & Company formed.
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The business of this firm was incorporated in 1901, as the Keck-Gonner- man Company, of which Mr. Keck has since been president. A review of the growth of this enterprise, the most important in Posey county, is included in the chapter, "Manufacturing and Commercial Enterprises," to which the reader is referred for supplemental information. As a citi- zen of Mt. Vernon, his place of residence for thirty years, Mr. Keck has been one of its most potential factors as a developer of commercial enter- prises. He was one of the active factors in the organization of the Industrial Brick Company, the Home Mill & Elevator Company, and the Sunlight Milling Company, all of which have added to the prosperity of the city and which are reviewed at length in the chapter, "Manufacturing and Commercial Enterprises." He is also a member of the directorate of the First National Bank of Mt. Vernon. With his brother, Louis H. Keck, he is the owner of 865 acres of choice bottom land in Posey and Gibson counties, which are operated under their supervision. He has always taken an active interest in the civil affairs of his county and State, but political office has never appealed to him. He is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias orders, and of the Methodist church. Mr. Keck married, on March 20, 1877, Miss Addie Frank, the daughter of Valentine Frank, a market gardener of Louisville, Ky. They are the parents of two children: Frank L. Keck, born June 16, 1882, a graduate of the Mt. Vernon High School, and as- sistant superintendent of the Keck-Gonnerman Company, and Grover C. Keck, a graduate of the engineering department of Purdue University, class of 1906, who is the assistant secretary and treasurer of the Keck- Gonnerman Company, and manager of the automobile sales department.
Miles W. Thomas, influential citizen, successful farmer and trustee of Black township, was born on his father's farm near the city of Mt. Vernon on May 15, 1858, the son of David and Mary (Noles) Thomas. David Thomas was also a native of Posey county, his wife a native of Kentucky. Both died in 1864, when Miles was a lad of six years of age. He was reared in the family of his brother-in-law, John M. Gregory, a farmer of Black township, who removed in 1874 to Illinois. In the last named year, Miles Thomas became self-supporting. He secured em- ployment as a farm hand and continued in this occupation until 1876, when he rented an eighty-acre farm in Marrs township. He remained a renter until 1893, when he purchased 180 acres of land in Marrs town- ship, and which he has brought up to a high point of cultivation. He also owns forty-three acres in Black township, three miles east of Mt. Vernon, which he purchased in 1897. Since attaining his majority he has taken an active part in the political life of his township, and has been a consistent supporter of the policies of the Democratic party. He was elected to his present office, that of trustee of Black township, in 1908, and in the administration of its affairs he has proven the possession of
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sound business judgment and keen financial sense. Since taking up the duties of the office, he has built three modern school buildings, one in 19II, one in 1912, and one in 1913, at a total cost of $13,800; besides put- ting all of the older buildings in a thorough state of repair. The roads of Black township are conceded to be the best in the county, and repre- sent close attention to this essential of the farmer by the trustee. A drainage ditch, costing $3,200, has also been completed under his super- vision, and is one of the important improvements of the township under his administration. His election was by a majority of 176 in a township normally Republican by 100; a highly complimentary evidence of his standing as a citizen and reputation as a man of affairs. Mr. Thomas married in 1879 Miss Mary Lewis, the daughter of Thompson P. Lewis, farmer and influential citizen of Marrs township. To them have been born seven children, four of whom died in infancy, and the others are as follows: Lewis W., born July 3, 1880; Elizabeth, born November 27, 1888, and Thompson, born October 12, 1900. The family became resi- dents of the city of Mt. Vernon in 1909, and are well and favorably known.
Andrew A. Schenk, successful merchant, influential citizen, and treas- urer of Posey county, is a native of the city of Mt. Vernon, where he was born on April 8, 1857, the son of Eberhardt P. and Margaret (Deig) Schenk. The family was founded in Indiana by Frank Schenk, a native of Germany, who came to Posey county in January, 1837, and located on land in Marrs township. He died in 1846 and his wife in 1872. They were the parents of Eberhardt P. Schenk, who was born in Germany, in 1821, and who obtained a good education in that country. His early life was passed on his father's farm. In 1847 he settled on a farm of his own in Marrs township, which he operated profitably. In 1855 he, with his brother, Frank Schenk, built the Union Hotel on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets, which they conducted until 1861, when Eber- hardt P. sold his interest and returned to his farm in Black township, resumed its operation and continued farming there until his death. Mr. Schenk was an active and influential factor in the political life of Posey county, a Democrat, and served acceptably as county commissioner for several years. He married Margaret Deig in 1847. They were the parents of the following children, viz .: Mary Ann (deceased), Katherine, Frank P., Andrew A., the subject of this article, Barbara, Margaret (deceased), and Elizabeth. The parents were communicants of the Catholic church, and the family were reared in that faith. Andrew A. Schenk was reared on his father's farm and educated in the schools of Marrs township. On attaining his majority he engaged in farming on his own account and remained in this occupation until 1892, when he removed to Mt. Vernon and engaged in the grocery business. He has since developed one of the most profitable enterprises in this line in the
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county. He posseses a reputation for honesty and fair dealing which combined with commercial ability of high order has enabled his to ac- cumulate a competence. Like his father, he has been an active factor in the political life of his home township, and later in that of the county. He has ever been a consistent advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, which honored him, in 1910, with nomination to the office of treasurer of Posey county, and elected him by a highly satisfactory majority. He was elected, to succeed himself, in 1912. In the administration of the affairs of this department of the county's busi- ness, Mr. Schenk has given the same close attention to detail which made for his success both as a farmer and merchant. The writer is per- suaded to believe that for all round efficiency the office has never had a more able occupant. Mr. Schenk married, on September 18, 1884, Miss Katy Grabert, the daughter of Frederick Grabert, of Black township. They are the parents of five children, who are as follows: Fred E. Schenk, assistant treasurer of Posey county; William C. Schenk, man- ager of the Schenk grocery store; Carl O. Schenk, Arthur A. Schenk, and Raymond Schenk, the last three named being employed in various ca- pacities in the store owned by their father. The family is popular in their home city, active in its social life, and the Schenk residence on Water street is one of the handsome homes of Mt. Vernon.
Eberhardt B. Schenk, president of the E. B. Schenk Hardware Com- pany, of Mt. Vernon, influential citizen and successful man of affairs, was born near Evansville, Ind., July 10, 1844. He was reared in St. Philip and Mt. Vernon, coming to the latter city with his parents in 1856. His education was acquired in the public schools and his first occupation was that of clerk in the Union Hotel of Mt. Vernon, built and conducted by his father and uncle. He initiated his first commercial venture in 1866, when he engaged in the pump business. In this he was successful. He engaged in the hardware business in 1873, doing busines under the style of E. B. Schenk. Under his management this enterprise has grown to be the leading one of its line in Posey county. Mr. Schenk occupies the office of president and his son, John Schenk, that of secretary and treasurer. The company carries a complete line of hardware, plumbing materials, stoves and furnaces, sporting goods, cutlery, and implements. The stock carried represents by far the largest investment of any similar enterprise in the county, is the most comprehensive in assortment, and in point of volume of sales, exceeds by far any competitor in the city. Mr. Schenk is known to the hardware trade as being especially well in- formed in all the branches and details of the line. As a merchant, he is considered as one of the most successful in his section. He is a citizen of influence, and that influence he has consistently used in the support of those measures which have had for their object the development and betterment of the commercial, civil and religious life of his city and
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county. He is a Democrat, takes an active interest in the questions of the day, but has never had inclination for public office. He is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 277, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a communicant of the Catholic church. Mr. Schenk married Miss Elizabeth Stahloefer, of Mt. Vernon.
Clem V. Schenk, a young business man of Mt. Vernon, who is success- fully conducting a plumbing, heating and sheet metal enterprise, which ranks first in its line in Posey county, was born in Mt. Vernon on Jan- uary 6, 1885, the son of Eberhardt B. Schenk, a review of whose life precedes this article. Clem V. Schenk received his education in the schools of his native city, supplemented by a two-year course in Jasper College, at Jasper, Ind. His first employment was in the store of his father, where for three years he was a salesman, eight years an em- ployee in the plumbing and sheet iron department of the same store, and of which he became foreman. In June, 1911, he took over the shop end of his father's business, and has developed a successful enterprise. He occupies commodious quarters in a two-story brick building on West Second street, having a frontage of forty feet and running back ninety feet. His equipment comprises all needed machinery necessary for the carrying on of the business, and his stock of material is the largest and most varied of any in its line in the county. Mr. Schenk is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, No. 277, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and takes an active interest in the political life of his city and State. He is a Democrat. Mr. Schenk married, on September 25, 1907, Miss Carrie Frielinghausen, the daughter of Antone Frielinghausen. The family are communicants of the Catholic church.
John Herrmann, one of Posey county's most enterprising and intelli- gent citizens, was reared and educated in Germany, where he was born August 10, 1827, the fourth son of a family of six children born to John and Magdalena (Wagner) Herrmann, who were natives of Germany and lived and died in the Fatherland. He came to America in 1851, locating first in New York State, where he remained for one year. He then went to Ohio and on March 18, 1853, he located on a farm near Wadesville, Ind., remaining there until 1887, when he came to Mt. Vernon. John Herrmann made his own start in life, unselfishly leav- ing his share of the family estate to his widowed mother and brothers and sisters. By indomitable courage and energy he succeeded in ac- quiring 300 acres of very fine land, now under cultivation. His barn, which is the finest in the county, cost $6,000. He has an elegant resi- dence and financially is one of the foremost farmers in the State. Mr. Herrmann is a member of the Lutheran church and is a Democrat and takes an active interest in politics. He held the office of justice of the peace sixteen years, and in all respects is worthy of the confidence reposed in him. He has been offered many positions of honor and trust
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by his political friends, which for various reasons he could not accept. He is prominent in the councils of his party and as a citizen takes a leading place in the community. In 1887 he removed from Wades- ville to Mt. Vernon and after holding the office of county treasurer he retired. Mrs. Herrmann died in 1906, and since that time he has made his home with his son, John G. Herrmann. On August 20, 1851, occurred the marriage of John Herrmann and Margaret Hempfling and they became the parents of seven children: Barbara, deceased ; Simon, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Christiana; Carolina, deceased ; John G., and Sophia, deceased. John G. was born September 10, 1866. On September 7, 1890, he married Miss Tillie Stephens, daughter of Henry and Mollie (Vosloh) Stephens. The next year he removed to Mt. Vernon and engaged in farming. At the same time he was in the im- plement business with his brother-in-law, Joseph M. Stephens, from 1902 to 1912, when he purchased Mr. Stephens' interests in both farm and implement business. At present Mr. Herrmann is the proprietor of an up-to-date garage located on Main street and sells the Buick auto- mobile and carries a full line of automobile accessories. The farm is known as the Little Island in the western part of Black township, and consists of 423 acres. Mr. Herrmann was also in the race horse busi- ness for three years. He belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows and Elks.
Enoch Beal Bixler, successful man of affairs and popular citizen of Cynthiana, was born on his father's farm in Armstrong township, Van- derburg county, Indiana, April 21, 1853, the son of John and Caroline (Lechner) Bixler, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, John Bixler having been born in Lebanon county on July 8, 1802, and his wife in Lewistown on September 1, 1815. They were married in Lew- istown on March 27, 1834. Four years later, in 1838, John Bixler de- cided to seek his fortune in the West and, with a covered wagon, drawn by one horse, he set out for Indiana and eventually located in Vander- burg county, where he purchased land from the government, paying $1.25 per acre. In his new home he underwent the hardships common to the pioneer of that time, did his due share toward the development of his section and accumulated a competence. He was a man of some influ. ence in his township, was held in esteem by his fellow citizens, and reared his children with a view to their becoming useful men and women. The original Bixler homestead, when purchased from the gov- ernment a wilderness, through his efforts made a highly productive farm property and is still owned by one of his children. John and Caroline Bixler were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living at this writing (1913) and are as follows: Benedict, Nancy J., the widow of Moses Wilkinson, who was a resident of Smith township, and in which she resides; Cornelia; Jonas T .; Enoch B., the subject of this review ; Edson M. and Ella F. The deceased children are: Mary
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