USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
32I
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
years before it came into the hands of Timothy Downen, and has re- mained in the family all this time. Mr. Downen makes a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs, also does general farming and stock raising. He has a good farm of eighty acres. Mr. Downen was married November 30, 1902, to Miss Mary Mills, daughter of Aleck and Matilda (Wilkie) Mills, both parents born in Posey county. Matilda Wilkie was reared in the place of her birth, but Aleck Mills went south with his parents when about eight years old, and did not return for thirty years. Mrs. Downen was born in Posey county, and was reared and educated here. Her father died in autumn of 1905 and her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Downen have had four children, Merle and Leona, who are attending school in Robinson township, Clarisey, and Lynn, who is deceased. Mr. Downen is a Democrat in politics.
Henry Donner, a farmer of Robinson township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 25, 1866, son of Fred and Bar- bara (Bauer) Donner, natives of Stuttgart, Germany, who came to this country before they were married. They both died while their five chil- dren were quite young, the mother in 1870, and the father in 1871. Henry was in bed with smallpox when his mother died, and could not attend the funeral. When left an orphan he lived with his brothers and sisters. His brothers worked in a brick yard, and Henry carried their break- fasts and dinners to them, beside going to school. In 1877, at the age of eleven years, Henry Donner came to Posey county with his brother, William. He lived with his uncle, Henry Donner, Sr., while William went to live with their cousin, Henry Donner, Jr. Here our subject re- mained for three years, attending school and doing all kinds of farm work and assisting in clearing new ground. He then went to the farm of his cousin, John Donner, where he worked two years for his board and clothes. At the end of this time he hired out to his cousin, Henry Don- ner, for $80 per year. Half of this he spent for clothes and saved $40. The next year he hired to another farmer for $140 per year and board, saving $100 that year. The next year he was with another neighbor at $150 and board, remaining here two years. After this he returned to his cousin, Henry, who paid him $160 per year, and here he remained four years. He then learned the carpenter's trade and received $1.50 per day, and worked at the trade until his marriage, which occurred Septem- ber II, 1892, to Miss Carry Huber, daughter of George and Barbara (Hahn) Huber, natives of Posey county, where they were reared. After his marriage he started farming for himself. Mrs. Huber, mother of Mrs. Donner, died in 1893, and they lived on the George Huber farm for two years. He then removed to Black township, renting the Joseph Welborn farm, where Samuel Benthal now lives, remaining there four years. In 1897 he rented a farm just west of Oliver, and in 1900 he bought his present farm, which is the old Tim Downen place in Robinson town-
322
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
ship, and contains 130 acres. Mr. Donner is engaged in general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Donner have had six children: Henry, who died in in- fancy ; Ida, who married Fred Wedeking, at present living in Evans- ville; Alk, and Olive, graduates of the common school, at home with their parents; Harry, now in the seventh grade in the Downen school. The Donner family are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Donner is a Republican in politics, and is now holding the office of trustee of Robin- son township, to which he was elected in 1908, and was for two years a member of the advisory board of the township.
Joseph Schmitt, a farmer of Posey county, Indiana, was born in Ger- many, his parents, Joseph and Anna Marie (Van Waltensberger) Schmitt, being natives of Elsas Ardelsheim, where they engaged in farming, and where their son, Joseph, was born, March 18, 1851. The family came to America in 1855, locating at Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, where the father drove an ox team, hauling logs for one year, after which he re- moved to a farm in Robinson township, Posey county, the place where Adam Schmitt now lives, and remained here until his death in 1896. The mother died in 1900. Our subject started to school in Princeton, and after the removal of his parents to Robinson township, attended school at St. Wendel. He worked on the home place until he was seventeen years of age, when he started learning the carpenter trade, working at this until twenty-one. He then worked on a farm one year, and in the sum- mer of 1873 worked with a threshing crew. He was married in Septem- ber of that year and in the fall cholera broke out and his wife's sister lost her husband and four children and husband's father. After his marriage he began farming on the home place of his wife's father, and has continued farming ever since. In 1892 he was elected assessor on the Democratic ticket, and served five years, and since that time has been deputy assessor for the township every time one has been needed. In 1912 he was elected county commissioner, and is now holding that office. Mr. Schmitt is an auctioneer, and since he was twenty-four years of age he has cried over 300 sales. The marriage of Joseph Schmitt and Miss Amalia Dudenhefer occurred in Robinson township, Posey county, where the bride was born and raised, on September 29, 1873. She is the daugh- ter of Jacob and Magdalene Dudenhefer, natives of Rheinprovinz, Hairx- heim, Germany, who came to America, locating first in Cincinnati, where they were married. Mrs. Schmitt was educated in the schools of St. Wendel. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt became the parents of ten children : Helena, Anna, Alfonso, Amanda, Alice, Cecelia, Louisa (deceased), Ida (deceased), Olevia and Elvera. Elvera is a graduate of the St. Wendel school and lives at home with her parents. Helena married Jacob Rothlei, and had three children, Raymond, Daniel and Elmar, the latter deceased. Anna married William Weyer. They live in Robinson town- ship and have had seven children, Urban, Viola, Arthur, Marie, Ran-
323
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
dolph, Wilmor (deceased) and Norman (deceased). Amanda married George Baehl, and has three children, Leona, Genevieve and Joseph, the latter deceased. Cecilia married William Engbers, and has one child, William Joseph. Both Amanda and Cecilia live in Evansville. Olevia married Phillip Muhelbaur, and they live in Poseyville. The family are members of the Catholic church at St. Wendel, where Mr. Schmitt has been trustee of the church three terms, and is now director of the choir.
Earnest Willman, a farmer living near Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., November 30, 1845, son of Earnest and Katherine Will- man, natives of Germany, who came to Pennsylvania and later removed to Posey county, Indiana, when their son, Earnest, was about a year old. They made the trip from Pittsburgh by boat, there being no railroads. They located in the woods at St. Philip, and built a log hut. For more than a year Mrs. Willman baked bread in a skillet. Earnest at- tended the common schools, and remained at home, working on the farm, until thirty years of age, when he bought a farm of his own. He still owns this place, adjoining his present home. On September 22, 1877, occurred the marriage of Earnest Willman and Miss Johana Elderbrook, daughter of Henry and Sophia (Leonard) Elderbrook, natives of Han- over, Germany, who came to America in 1872, and located in Gibson county, Indiana, where Mr. Elderbrook engaged in farming and stock raising. Johana was born in Hanover in 1854, and attended school in Germany, coming to America with her parents at the age of eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Willman have seven children: Folney, who married Bar- bie Winter; Earnest, married Carry Roiddle; George, married Louise Reinghie; Frederick, married Annie Dempersenier ; Louise and Tillie. All five boys are farming in Posey county. The children are all grad- uates of the common schools. The family are all members of the Luth- eran church.
John Henry Schreiber, a farmer of Black township, Posey county, In- diana, was born on the same farm where he now lives on February 23, 1868, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Franbel nee Dickout) Schreiber, na- tives of Germany. Michael Schrieber was born in the Fatherland in 1800 and about 1825 or 1826 he started with his young wife to America. She died on the way and was buried at sea. Upon his arrival he located in Posey county, and as land was cheap he soon became one of the largest land owners in this section of the country, having more than 1,000 acres. He was a hard worker, often helping his neighbors in the daytime and doing his own clearing at night. He used cattle exclusively in his farming and clearing. The mother of our subject came to America when a young lady about twenty-three years of age. She received her education in Germany. Michael Schreiber died February 22, 1881, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife died four years later, on July 8, 1885. John Henry Schreiber was but thirteen years of age when his
324
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
father died and at the death of his mother he was left in charge of the farm, being the only child by his father's third marriage. There was still plenty of timber standing and he cleared about forty-five acres on the place. At that time there were no rock roads, telephones, autos or other modern conveniences, and at times the roads were so bad that it would be impossible to get to Mt. Vernon for two months at a time, sometimes having to walk the entire distance on the Louisville & Nash- ville railroad ties. Mr. Schreiber can remember when this railroad was built. Being a hard worker, like his father he has met with a large de- gree of success, has a farm of 260 acres, all under cultivation except about thirty-five acres of fine white oak and poplar timber. During the past few years he has been raising cattle and hogs for market, meeting with much success in this line. The Schreiber farm is equipped with all modern improvements, gasoline engines for grinding grain, pumping water and other work, an auto, a fine residence and large modern barns. Mr. Schreiber was married December 14, 1888, to Bertha Deitz, daughter of Philip and Charlotta Deitz, natives of Germany, who came to Posey county, where their daughter, Bertha, was born and raised in Black township. Philip Deitz was a cabinet maker. Mr. and Mrs. Schreiber became the parents of five children: John Philip, William Fred, Eliza- beth Margaret, George Arthur and William Henry, the last deceased. They are all at home with their father. William Fred married Carry Renner and they have one child, Albert Fred. The family belongs to the Evangelical church, and Mr. Schreiber is a Republican in politics.
William Renschler, farmer, dairy man and stock breeder, of Mt. Ver- non, Ind., was born in Vanderburg county, Indiana, July 23, 1869, son of John and Elizabeth (Fuhs) Renschler, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Indiana. John Renschler, now in his eightieth year, still lives on his farm south of Caborn. William Renschler came with his parents to Marrs township, Posey county, at the age of six years and here attended common school. He remained on the farm with his parents until twenty-one years of age and then started for himself, buy- ing his present farm north of Mt. Vernon, on which he has lived con- tinuously since. He now has 160 acres with modern improvements and a beautiful residence. Mr. Renschler is a scientific farmer and breeder of cattle and hogs, using Durham for his beef stock and Jersey for his milk herd. He has lately begun breeding Guernsey for milk and is. meeting with success. He breeds Poland China hogs. At present Mr. Renschler is making large quantities of butter, which he sells in Mt. Vernon. His leading farm products are wheat, corn and clover, and he has several smaller crops that pay well. On October 27, 1891, occurred the marriage of William Renschler and Maggie Sailor, daughter of John and Doradier (Schreiber) Sailor, natives of Germany, where the father was a farmer. Mrs. Renschler was born and reared in Black township.
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY 325
Five children were born to this union: Anna, Christiana, Loulie (de- ceased), Minnie Katherine, Liddie Mary and George Wesley. The children are all at home with their parents and Anna Christiana and Minnie Katherine are graduates of the common schools. The family belongs to the Evangelical church and in politics Mr. Renschler is a Republican.
Samuel Carroll, a farmer of Black township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in the same township where he now lives November 16, 1870, son of John R. and Virginia (Adzech) Carroll. His father, a native of Tennessee, came to Posey county at the time of the Civil war. He en- listed in the Forty-sixth Ohio and served three years in the war. After peace was declared he located in Posey county, where he has lived ever since, and engaged in farming and stock raising. Samuel Carroll fin- ished the common schools and then began farming, first hiring out by the month until 1900, when he rented a farm and began for himself. The man for whom he was working left the county and sold his teams to Mr. Carroll on three years' time. He paid for them in two years. In I9II he removed to his present home in Black township, where he owns forty acres and rents eighty-five acres. He is a member of the Ben Hur fraternal order, and in politics is a Republican. Mr. Carroll was married July 24, 1892, to Abbie (West) Gulledge, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob West. She was reared and educated in Posey county, where she died in 1902, leaving two children: John, born September 29, 1893, and Trin, born March 28, 1896. On August 10, 1903, Mr. Carroll married Ida Allyn, daughter of Joseph and Rachel Allyn, natives of Posey county, both now dead. Mr. Allyn was a farmer. Mrs. Carroll was born and educated in Posey county. They have two children: Joseph, born November 14, 1911, and Esther Virginia, born April 5, 1912.
Reverend Charles G. Kettelhut, pastor of the Zion's Evangelical church at Lippe, Robinson township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in Pomerania, Germany, February 19, 1866, son of William and Henrietta Kettelhut, natives of the same place. His parents came to America in the fall of 1880 and settled in Freelandville, Knox county, Indiana. Here they engaged in farming and stock raising, and Charles attended the common schools, getting his first lessons in English, although his early education had already been begun in the Fatherland. While going to school he worked on the farm with his parents, but on completing his elementary education he entered the preparatory college at Elmhurst, Ill., in the fall of 1887, graduating with the class of 1891. He was then transferred to Eden Theological Seminary of the Evangelical church at St. Louis, Mo., from which he graduated in 1894. After graduating from the seminary he returned to his home at Freeland, Ind., where he was ordained as a minister of the Zion Evangelical Church and was assigned to the charge at High Hill, Montgomery county, Missouri,
.
326
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
in January, 1894, remaining about two years. From there he was called to fill the charge at New Palestine, Ind., remaining there until 1898, when he removed to Powhatan Point, Ohio. He had charge of that congregation until the fall of 1902, going from there to the congregation at Westphalia, Knox county, Indiana, remaining there until April 15, 1906, at which time he accepted the call of the church at Lippe, Robinson township, Posey county, where he has a large and wealthy con- gregation with a membership of about 100 families. Since his pastorate here the church has prospered and has one of the largest church build- ings in the county with a parsonage of brick in connection. Rev. Kettel- hut was married October 7, 1894, to Elizabeth R. Preiss, daughter of George and Catherine Preiss, both deceased. George Preiss was very prominent in St. Louis county, Missouri, where several other members of the Preiss family have received political honors. He died in the fall of 1908. He was born in Germany and came to this country with his father at the age of nine years. Mrs. Kettelhut was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, and attended the public schools. They have five children : Herbert, who graduated from the Mt. Vernon High School in 1913 and is now attending the Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill .; Freda and Hulda, graduates of the public schools, who are now taking a spe- cial course in music; Theophil and Gertrude, both attending the public schools of Robinson township at District No. 6. All the family are active church workers.
Charles Dausman, trustee of Marrs township and one of the leading farmers of the vicinity, was born in German township, Vanderburg county, Indiana, June 15, 1860, son of Jacob and Barbra (Groeninger) Dausman, both natives of the same township, where they were farmers. The father died in 1867 and the mother in 1861. They were the parents of five children as follows: Mary A., born November 23, 1852, now the wife of Adam Roeder, Evansville, Ind .; Henry Jacob, born October 5, 1854, now a blacksmith in Marrs townhip; John, born December 3, 1856, died December 8, 1856; George F., born December 25, 1857, died in 1876, and Charles, the subject of this sketch. Charles Dausman was educated in the public schools of Vanderburg county, after which he became a blacksmith, and followed this occupation for twelve years. On May 18, 1876, he came to Posey county, locating in Marrs township, where he worked at his trade. He purchased a small farm in 1889 and began farming. In 1910 he bought the 160-acre tract on which he lives at present. He is a successful agriculturist and stock raiser and has one of the finest farms in the county. In 1909 Mr. Dausman was elected trustee of Marrs township and is still holding that office. He is a Re- publican in politics and, with the remainder of the family, is a member of the Lutheran church. On January 4, 1885, Mr. Dausman married Miss Katherine Jourdan, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Jourdan, of
327
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
Posey county. Jacob Jourdan was born in Germany and died in Posey county, where he was engaged in farming. Mrs. Jourdan was born in Germany July 29, 1829, and died in Marrs township October 22, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Dausman became the parents of six sons and one daugh- ter: Jacob Charles, born November 13, 1885, married Miss Caroline Noelle, December 27, 1911. She died October 14, 1913. He is now a farmer in Marrs township; Lydia Katherine, born June 6, 1888, is living with her parents; Charles Henry, born February 4, 1890; Arthur Philip, born May 6, 1894; George Adam, born October 5, 1896, died October 9, 1896; William Henry, born June 30, 1898, and Raymond Oscar, born May 6, 1904.
James Robert Lewis, a farmer of Marrs township, Posey county, In- diana, was born in that locality October 7, 1861 (see sketch of Thomp- son Price Lewis). He was educated in the public schools of his native township and worked on his father's farm until the age of twenty-one, when he began farming for himself. In politics Mr. Lewis is a Demo- crat and in the past ten years he has been several times deputy assessor of Marrs township and has also been bailiff of the Posey county court several times. Mr. Lewis has been married twice. He first married Miss Ella Wade, in 1882. She was born March II, 1863, in Harmony township, Posey county, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Wade, both deceased, and died June 20, 1887. She became the mother of two chil- dren : Ethel, born December 17, 1884, now the wife of John Derrington, a farmer of Black township, Posey county ; and Stella, born August 15, 1886, died December 23, 1886. On March 15, 1888, our subject married Miss Edith Donna Reed, daughter of John H. and Jane A. (Johnson) Reed, of Akin, Ill. Mr. Reed was born April 22, 1838, in Virginia, and his wife on February 22, 1841, in Blairsville, Ind. They were married November 24, 1858, and had nine children: Marinda L., born January 21, 1860, died September 5, 1894; Malissa Ellen, born April 17, 1862, died July 4, 1863; Mary Etta, born June 8, 1864, now the wife of Robert S. Lawrence, a farmer of Marrs township; Marcus D., born August 26, 1866; Edith D., born October 20, 1868; Martha Ona, born October 25, 1870, now the wife of Wesley Crumens, of Illinois; Ada Gertrude, born May 1, 1872, died February 3, 1885; Perry Paul, born July 7, 1874, now a farmer in Illinois, and James Harvey, born April 6, 1880. By his second wife Mr. Lewis had three sons and three daughters: William David, born September 19, 1889, was married to Miss Minnie Conley, daughter of William and Eliza Conley, March 25, 1909; she was born May 16, 1889, in Polk county, Illinois, and became the mother of two children, Arvale Lee, born August 23, 1910, and Fred Leroy, born November 30, 1912; John Thomson Lewis, born September 20, 1891 ; James Herschel, born November 17, 1895; Jennie, born December 24, 1892, died August 5, 1895; Edith Donna, born July 30, 1896; Eva Belle, born April II,
328
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
1898, who had the honor in 1913 of being elected delegate from Posey county, in the contest conducted by the Evansville "Courier," to go to Washington for the the inauguration of President Wilson. Mr. Lewis is one of Posey county's substantial citizens. He and his family are members of the General Baptist church.
James Pendell (deceased), who for many years was a successful and prominent farmer in Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in that locality February 4, 1831, and died in the same township April 25, 1909, where his remains were interred in Colven cemetery. He was a son of Harrison Pendell, who came from North Carolina at an early date and settled in Posey county, where he died, in Marrs township, in 1886. Our subject was married January 17, 1883, to Mrs. Sarah J. Knowles, daughter of Stephen and Melvina (Gwaltney) Harrison. Mrs. Pendell was born March 26, 1858, in Marrs township. Her parents were native farmers of Posey county and her father was a veteran of the Mexican war. James Pendell and wife became the parents of five sons and two daughters: William, born February 10, 1886; Charles, born January 26, 1887; Herbert, born October 27, 1888; Ethel, born October 4, 1890; Myrtle, born February 20, 1893; Elmer, born November 22, 1897, died January 4, 1898; Raymond A., born June 1, 1899. Mr. Pendell was a private in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Indiana volunteer regiment, during the Civil war. Mrs. Sarah J. Pendell was first married to William J. Knowles, January 7, 1874. He was a son of Thomas Knowles, of Black township. Mr. Knowles died in 1880. Four children were born to this union: Zella Belle, born October 14, 1874, died December 25, 1875; Stephen Thomas, born September 22, 1876, now in the artillery in the United States Army; Saphrona Lee, born December 3, 1878, now the wife of Herbert Frazier, a railroad man of Reading, Pa .; and Cynthia Jane, born January 4, 1880, died May 21, 1909. Mrs. Pendell now lives on the old homestead in Marrs township at Caborn Station. She is a member of the Primitive Baptist church.
Frank Ritzert (deceased) was a farmer all his life in Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, owning his own land. He was born February 7, 1865, in the same township where he spent his life, son of Henry and Barbara (Kroek) Ritzert, natives of Germany, who came to this country when the father was fifty-six years of age. They located in Marrs town- ship and took up the occupation of farming and Mr. Ritzert became one of the most active and successful men in the locality. He died, March 28, 1913, and was buried in St. Phillip's cemetery. He was a Roman Catholic, as was also his son, Frank, who died April 15, 1909. On No- vember 17, 1896, occurred the marriage of Frank Ritzert to Miss Bertha E. Wernet, daughter of Henry and Mary (Mesker) Wernet. She was born March 27, 1867, in Vanderburg county, Indiana. Her parents, both of whom are deceased, came from Germany early in life. Mr. and Mrs.
329
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
Ritzert have had five children. Mary C., born October, 1897; Henry, born February 15, 1899, died on the same day ; Cecelia E., born January 6, 1902; Sylvester J., born April 1, 1904; and Leroy J., born December 31, 1906.
George J. Seifert, a merchant of Caborns, Marrs township, Posey coun- ty, Indiana, was born February 8, 1874, in that township, son of William and Louise (Roesner) Seifert, the former having been born in Marrs township, March 3, 1847. The grandfather of our subject came from Germany to Posey county, and became one of its first settlers. He died in 1891. Four sons and four daughters survive him: William, Nicho- las, Fred, John, Susan, Elizabeth, Anna and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Seifert were married in 1873, and became the parents of several children, six of whom are living: George L., William H., Louis B., Edward, Hermann and Philip. George Seifert was educated in the public schools of Marrs township, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-four years of age, when he bought a farm for himself. He con- tinued farming until I911, when he sold his land and established a gen- eral merchandise business at Caborns, where he has a large trade from the tributary neighborhood. The business was established by William H., his brother, who had conducted it seven years. He was married March 6, 1898, to Miss Emma Martin, daughter of Peter Martin, of Marrs town- ship. Mrs. Seifert was born January 21, 1876, in Black township. Her parents are deceased. They have one child, Viola Martha, born Septem- ber 12, 1908.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.