USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana > Part 39
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
Francis College at Teotopolis, Ill., and the Catholic College at Day- ton, Ohio. He was subsequently employed in his father's store and mill in various capacities and received a thorough business training under the supervision of the elder Schieber. In Gates, Tenn., he ini- tiated his first independent venture when he formed, with Charles Fin- ley, the firm of Schieber & Finley and engaged in the manufacture of lumber, their plant being removed some time afterward to Benoid, Miss. This venture was a success and he demonstrated his possession of execu- tive ability of a high order. He was able to secure recognition among men in the trade as an able manager and one who knew lumber values. An opportunity offering in which he was assured of further advancing his importance among men in his line, he retired from the firm of Schieber & Finley and, with his father and M. E. Montgomery, pur- chased the business of the Lee Lumber Company, of Memphis, of which he became general manager and his father president. In the manage- ment of this enterprise he continued his former success and the com- pany became one of the most important factors in the lumber trade of the South. On the death of his father he succeeded him as president and remained in this capacity until his death on March II, 1913. His death, which occurred while he was in the prime of life, at a time when he had attained a commanding position in his chosen field of enter- prise, was a severe blow to his mother, who had but three years before lost her husband. August F. Schieber possessed many likeable qualities, his friends were many and worth while, he promised to become a busi- ness man of unusual worth, and his loss to the business circles of Mem- phis was deplored by the press of that city. August F. Schieber was twice married. His first wife was Miss Annie Naas, of Mt. Vernon. No children were born of this union. After her death he married Mrs. Margaret Drury, nee Freeman. Of this union one child was born: Mary Augusta Schieber, February 18, 1904.
Jacob Becker, retired farmer of Wadesville, Ind., was born March 6, 1839, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, son of John and Katherine (Hirth) Becker. He came to the United States with his parents and three brothers in 1852. They came by sailing vessel, consuming sev- enty-two days in the voyage, and landed at New Orleans. They then came up the Mississippi river to Cairo, Ill., thence by the Ohio river to Evansville. The wife and mother died of cholera on the boat and was. buried at Greenville, Ark. After a few years in Evansville they bought a farm in Robinson, Posey county. The four brothers are as fol- lows: John, now retired at Evansville; Henry, deceased; Jacob, of this record; and Herman, deceased. Jacob Becker learned the shoe- maker's trade at Evansville and in 1862 he removed to Posey county and opened a general store in Wadesville, which he conducted for eight years and then sold to his father-in-law, Finley Allison. He then opened
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a shoe shop in the same town, which he conducted for eighteen years, after which he bought his present farm of eighty acres at the edge of town. It is now one of the best improved in the vicinity. Mr. Becker has been married twice. On January 30, 1862, he married Miss Mary Allison, daughter of Finley Allison. She was born January 12, 1842, and died July 2, 1867. Two sons were born to this marriage: William H., December 15, 1862, now a railroad man at Indianapolis; John F., born May 12, 1866, a farmer of Center township. Mr. Becker took as his second wife Miss Emily Allison, who was a sister of his first wife. They became the parents of seven children: Mary, born June 19, 1868, married William H. Hidbrader, a farmer of Center township, and they have one child, Herman; Emma, born March 12, 1870( now the wife of John Wade, of Wadesville; Laura, born April 21, 1872, now the wife of Edward Goad, of Port Orchard, Wash .; Edward, born August 12, 1874, died March 22, 1877; Charles, born June II, 1878, boilermaker at Evansville; Edward, born March 2, 1882, was married October 12, 1903, to Miss Emma Owens, daughter of Flavius and Pauline (Cox) Owens, of Center township. She was born October 28, 1883, in Center township. They have three children, Velma, born May 22, 1904, Melvin Joel, born December 25, 19II, and a son born in October, 1913. Pearl, the seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Becker, was born August 4, 1886, and is now the wife of Edward Lock- ridge, of Evansville. Mr. Becker is a progressive, substantial citizen of the community and an active member of the Lutheran church. For many years he was an active worker in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Harri Jara, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but has dropped all.
John C. Leffel, editor and proprietor of the "Western Star" and one of the best known newspaper men in southern Indiana, was born in Blairsville, Posey county, May 8, 1850, a son of Daniel and Barbara (Reichenbacher) Leffel, both of whom were born in Karlsruhe, Baden, Germany, where they also married. In 1832 they immigrated to the United States and for several years resided in New York City. They changed locations several times and in the latter part of the '4os located in Center township, Posey county, where Mr. Leffel purchased large tracts of land, the town sites of Blairsville and Wadesville being a part of his original purchase. In 1854 he removed to Mt. Vernon and en- gaged in merchandising. His death occurred in 1873, at the age of sixty-six years, and that of his wife in 1894, aged seventy-nine. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom survive, viz .: Nancy, the widow of George Henrich; Elizabeth, the widow of William H. Lichtenberger; John C., of this review; Celia, the wife of Henry Bald- win, all of Mt. Vernon; and Mollie E., the wife of Valentine Kratz, of Los Angeles, Cal. Those deceased are: Caroline, who married Wil-
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liam Derman, of Spokane, Wash., and died in July, 1911; Catherine and William, the former of whom died aged nineteen and the latter aged four. John C. Leffel was educated in the schools of Mt. Vernon and at the age of fifteen became an apprentice in a harness shop at St. Louis, Mo., where he remained until 1867, when he returned to Mt. Vernon and entered the office of the "Democrat" and assisted Tom Col- lins, the editor and proprietor, in getting out his paper. He remained on the "Democrat" until October, 1875, when he established the Mt. Vernon "Wochenblatt," the first and only German paper to be pub- lished in Posey county. In 1877 the first issue of the "Western Star" appeared, the founding of this paper by Mr. Leffel being the result of repeated requests upon the part of leading Democrats that he establish and edit a paper that could be counted on as the organ of the party in the county. From its first issue it has been the aim of the editor to make it alive with interest and with real, practical usefulness, and this has been done, with the result that it is, and has been for thirty- five years, welcomed as a personal friend in the homes of Posey county. In 1885 the publishing of the "Wochenblatt" was discontinued, due to the demands upon Mr. Leffel's time by the "Western Star," which pre- vented him giving both papers the attention they deserved. He enjoys the distinction of having been the first publisher in Posey county to install power presses and is the only one who has purchased a linotype machine. The office and press room of the "Star" are in point of equipment the best in the county. The building in which they are located was constructed from plans furnished by Mr. Leffel and is especially adapted to the needs of his business. It is the one printing plant of the county in which typesetting is done by machinery. The job printing department of the paper is up to date in all particulars and its business exceeds by far any other establishment in this line in the county. As a newspaper man Leffel has never been surpassed in Posey county. He is a vigorous writer, has a wealth of energy, his edi- torials are worth while, and his paper has been conducted in an able and clean manner. He has attained the Council degree in Masonry and is a member of Beulah Lodge, No. 578. Mr. Leffel married on July 2, 1872, Miss Minnie Brinkman, the eldest daughter of Henry Brinkman, of Mt. Vernon, a review of whom appears on other pages of this vol- ume. Mrs. Leffel was born in Mt. Vernon on June 8, 1853, and died on February 28, 1907. She is survived by her husband and the follow- ing children: Edward, born May 4, 1872, personal mention of whom follows this article; Lillie, born October 4, 1874, the wife of Philip Sud- doth, of Mt. Vernon; Herbert, born April 24, 1877, who is associated with his father; Daisy, born September 14, 1874, who resides in Evans- ville; Otto, born August 24, 1881, agent at Oskaloosa, Kan., of the Mis-
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
souri Pacific railway; John, born February 5, 1887, employe of the pas- senger department of the Shore Line railway at San Francisco, Cal .; and Minnie, born February 16, 1892, residing with her father.
Edward Leffel is the eldest son of John C. Leffel and Minnie (Brink- man) Leffel. He was born in the city of Mt. Vernon, Ind., on May 14, 1872, and is one of a family of seven children, viz .: Lillian (Leffel) Suddoth, Daisy and Minnie Leffel, and Herbert, Otto and John Leffel, Jr. Mr. Leffel attended the public schools of Mt. Vernon and learned the newspaper business in the "Star" office, which was conducted by his father. When a young man he worked for a short time in the Kellar Printing Company in Evansville, Ind., and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D. C. He held a position in the Indi- ana legislature of 1892 and later went to Washington. After working twelve or fifteen years in the newspaper and printing business he be- came engaged in the mortgage loan business, which business he is en- gaged in at this date, November 7, 1913. He is unmarried.
William A. Oliver, extensive land owner and farmer of Center town- ship, Posey county, and a member of one of the most prominent pioneer families of southwestern Indiana, was born on his father's farm in Rob- inson township on December 2, 1844, a son of Job and Elizabeth (Jones) Oliver. Job Oliver was born in Kentucky on December 18, 1820, his parents coming to Indiana shortly after his birth. They located in Posey county, then in a formative period, where the father located on land. Job attended the schools of that early day, did his due share of the day's work, endured the hardships common to the settler of the pioneer period, and became one of the large land owners of the county. He was actively concerned in the early development of Center town- ship, a man of influence, and possessed the esteem of all. He was mar- ried twice. By his first wife he had six children, three of whom are living, viz .: William A., the subject of this review; Wilson and Samuel. Thompson, Cynthia and Joel are deceased. Anna Shaw, his second wife, bore him six children, viz .: George, Emma, Nelia, James and Ella. Elizabeth is deceased. The town of Oliver was named in honor of Job Oliver, the townsite being a part of one of his farms. William A. Oliver was reared on his father's farm and his education was acquired in the schools of Robinson township. Farming has been his occupation since boyhood and he is recognized as not only one of the successful men in that field of endeavor within his county, but is also one of the influential citizens of his township. Political office has never appealed to him, al- though he takes an active interest in the questions of the day and never neglects his civic duties. He is a Democrat. His farm of 128 acres is well improved, well stocked and has been his place of residence since 1873. Mr. Oliver has been twice married. In December, 1866, he married Miss Rachel Causey, who died August 9, 1870. She bore
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
him two children: John, born September I0, 1867, died October 22, 1867, and Walter, born July 13, 1870, died October 8, 1870. On Jan- uary 16, 1873, he married for his second wife Miss Cornelia Fillingim, the daughter of Gracchus and Lurana (Cox) Fillingim. She was born on January 18, 1849. Of this second union three children were born, of whom the eldest died in infancy. Otis L. Oliver, born December 3, 1875, died on February 3, 1892. Elsie M., born December 28, 1879, is the wife of William W. Hoggatt, M. D., of French Lick Springs, Ind. They are the parents of five children, viz .: Verne D., born January 16, 1900; Eunice M., born August 7, 1902; Vera Fae, born June 10, 1905 ; Doris and Dorothy, twins, who were born May 1, 1912.
Warren Wade, president of the Farmers National Bank of Wades- ville, prominent farmer and stockman and popular citizen, is a native of" Posey county and was born on October 27, 1859, a son of William D. and Hester C. (Fillingim) Wade. The family was founded in Indiana by Zachariah Wade, a native of North Carolina, born near Chester Court House, who came to Posey county in the early years of its settle- ment, became a prosperous farmer, attained influence as a citizen, and was the father of Wadesville, named for him. He was a Democrat, served as justice of the peace for many years, and was identified with practically every phase of the development of his township. William D. Wade was also a farmer. He was born on April 19, 1825, and died on May 14, 1904. On August 8, 1854, he married Hester C. Fillingim, a daughter of Ajax and Eliza (Moye) Fillingim, who, like his parents, were natives of North Carolina. They were the parents of the following children: Warren, the subject of this article; Albert, born December 6, 1861 ; a resident of New Albany, Ind,; and Jennie, born February 8, 1863, the wife of Sidney Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Harmony township. Three children: Roy, Carrol and Elvis, died in infancy. Warren Wade was reared on his father's farm in Center township, as- sisted in its operation until he was twenty-four years of age, and ac- quired his education in the district schools of his neighborhood. In 1894 he became the owner of a farm and has devoted his attention to agriculture and stock feeding and in each branch of endeavor has met with success. His farm property consists of 150 acres, its improve- ments are substantial and it has paid satisfactory returns. In 1907 he, with Dan Williams, promoted the organization of the Farmers Na- tional Bank of Wadesville, and on incorporation he was elected to its directorate. He became vice-president of the institution in 1908 and was elected president in 1909, and is still serving in that capacity. The following year, 1910, he retired from the active management of his farm. He is a Democrat in his political views, is influential in the affairs of his township and served for two years as trustee. In the administra-
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
tion of the affairs of this office he served with credit. He exercised sound financial sense in handling the township funds, was able to greatly improve the roads, building a considerable mileage, and at the same time reduced the levy from seventy-two to fifty-two cents. Mr. Wade married on October 21, 1883, Miss Mary Bailey, a daughter of Larkin and Martha A. (Fitzgerald) Bailey, of Harmony township. Larkin Bailey was born in Harmony township on January 5, 1838, and died December 3, 1878. His wife was also born in the township on Septem- ber 7, 1837, and died December 18, 1869. Mary Bailey Wade was born on November 2, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are the parents of one child, Herman Wade, born August 11, 1884. He is a graduate of the Wades- ville High School, attended for one term the Oakland City College, and also Purdue University, in the latter institution specializing on agri- culture and live stock. He is one of the successful and progressive farmers of Center township, and owns and manages 200 acres of well improved land, which is being scientifically farmed. On November 29, 1908, he married Miss Jessie Wiley, a daughter of James D. and Hannah (Penfold) Wiley, of Harmony township. She was born on August 7, I884.
George B. Wade, retired farmer, influential citizen, of Center town- ship, and a resident of Wadesville, is a native of Posey county, a mem- ber of one of its prominent pioneer families and is a descendant of Zach- ariah Wade, for whom Wadesville was named. He is the son of Isaac George Washington and Eliza Jane (Nash) Wade, both of whom were born in Posey county, the father on February 15, 1829, and the mother on June 27, 1836. They were married in 1856. Isaac G. W. Wade was one of the most successful farmers of Center township, served for many years as a justice of the peace, was a Democrat and took an active part in the political life of his county, and accumulated a sizeable fortune. His death occurred on August 5, 1899. His wife, Eliza Jane Nash, was the daughter of Andrew and Mariah (Montgomery) Nash, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wade, and are as follows: William, born in 1858, died in infancy ; Mariah, born October 10, 1860, is the wife of Henry Heckman, a farmer of Harmony township ; George B., the subject of this sketch ; Isaac Minor, born October 16, 1864, and Alvin Andrew, born August 16, 1867, both of whom reside on the home farm in Center township. George B. Wade was reared on his father's farm, secured his education in the public schools of Center township, and remained on the home farm until 1904, when he married, on June 22, Miss Della Moye, a daughter of George W. and Grace (Stallings) Moye, both natives of Posey county, Mr. Moye having been born in Center township on January 2, 1854, and his wife on Febru- ary 22, 1859. Mrs. Wade was born on November 23, 1878. She is one of a family of ten children, the brothers and sisters being: Wyatt Gray
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY
Moye, Ora O. Moye, Minnie Pearl, the widow of Samuel Coomer, Iva Viola, the wife of Morris F. Wade, a farmer of Center township, Eliza- beth Ellen, Elva Leona, the wife of Louis Garris, Malcolm Edward, in the naval service of the United States, Virginia Evelyn, a graduate of the Wadesville High School in the class of 1913, and George Lawrence Moye. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Wade bought a farm and engaged in busi- ness for himself. In 1904 he retired from active farm labor, became a resident of Wadesville, and has since been occupied in looking after his property interests, which are considerable. Political office has never ap- pealed to him. He is a Democrat. His fraternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are the parents of the following children: Eunice, born May 25, 1905; George Van, born October 4, 1906, and Mary Eliza, born March 30, 1909. The family attend the Regular Baptist church.
James H. Moye, a successful farmer, extensive land owner and promi- nent citizen of Posey county, whose death occurred on July 16, 1907, was born on his father's farm in Center township, February 27, 1847. He was a son of Wyatt G. and Elizabeth (Owens) Moye, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Posey county. The family was founded in Indiana in 1830, when John Moye, a native of North Carolina, located in Posey county, in what is now Center township. He and his descendants, he was the father of eleven children, have had much to do with the development of this section of the county, and have been, with- out exception, men and women who have had the respect and esteem of their fellow citizens. James H. Moye acquired his education in the schools of his native township, was reared a farmer and upon his father's death became the owner of a part of the home farm. As a farmer he was successful, and added to his holdings in farm lands until he was one of the large land owners of his township. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he took an active part in the campaigns, was influential in party councils, but had no inclination for public office. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and active in the work of his order. Mr. Moye married, in 1873, Miss Susan Cox, who died on September 9, 1877. Two children were born of this union : Walter G. Moye, born November 26, 1874, and LeRoy, who died in in- fancy. On February 23, 1879, he married Miss Luvina Hunsinger, a daughter of Lewis and Sophronia C. (McCrary) Hunsinger, who was born April 9, 1858, and who resides on the Moye farm two miles west of Wadesville. Her family were residents of White county, Illinois, of which State her father was a native; her mother was born in Posey county. With her brother, Calvin W. Hunsinger, she is the only sur- vivor of the family of six children, four of whom are deceased, and are as follows: Seymour T., Isabell, Larkin Minor, and George Allen. To James H. Moye and Luvina (Hunsinger) Moye fourteen children were
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born, viz .: Sophronia Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; Lewis, born Sep- tember 29, 1881 ; Fanny, born April 11, 1883; James Henry, born May 22, 1885; Joseph Wilburn, born December 31, 1886; Larkin Kenneth, born August 27, 1888; Edith, born September 9, 1889, the wife of Edgar W. Huck; Lilly, born April 8, 1892; Jesse Lawrence, born September 15, 1893 ; Helen, born June 15, 1896; Ruby, born March 12, 1898, and Susie, born January 5, 1900. The Moye farm is one of the best examples of modern farming in Posey county. Substantial improvements and modern equipment mark the progressive spirit of its owners. The family are active in the social and religious life of their community, possess the esteem of their neighbors, while the home is known for its hospitality.
Clarence Cox, educator, farmer and trustee of Center township, Posey county, is a descendant on both the paternal and maternal sides from pioneer residents of Southwestern Indiana. He was born on his father's farm in Center township, on October 21, 1871, a son of Isaac N. and Har- riet N. (Wade) Cox. The father was born on February 7, 1846, and died March 27, 1877. Mrs. Cox was born on December 10, 1843, and with her two children, Clarence, the subject of this sketch, and Elva, born April 18, 1873, who is the wife of William H. Ramsey, of Wadesville, Ind,, survive. Isaac N. Cox was a farmer, well and favorably known in his section of the county, who died at a time when he was on the road to success and prominence. Clarence Cox was reared on his father's farm, educated in the public schools and in 1890 engaged in teaching. This profession he followed for sixteen years in the schools of Center town- ship, where he became known as one of the successful educators of his county. In 1908 he was elected to the office of trustee of Center town- ship, and is still serving in that capacity. His administration of the af- fairs of this office have been creditable to himself and his constituents. His financial policy has been sound, improvements have kept pace with the times, and the schools have benefited greatly through his long expe- rience as a teacher. He has always taken an active interest in the ques- tions of the day and is a consistent supporter of the principles and policies of the Democratic party. Mr. Cox married, on June 9, 1897, Miss Ida L. Moye, a daughter of John L. and Nancy J. (Randolph) Moye. She was born on July II, 1873. They are the parents of two children: Mildred M. Cox, born September 21, 1900, and Myron M. Cox, born July 12, 1905.
Christ Reister, successful merchant, influential citizen and former treasurer of Posey county, was born in the town of Stein, province of Baden, Germany, on December 28, 1848, the son of Christ and Katherine (Zippese) Reister. Christ Reister, Sr., a tailor by trade, served in the German army during the revolution of 1848. He came to the United States in 1852, landing in New Orleans, and enlisted in the regular army. He was joined by his family in 1852 at Oswego, N. Y., and about three months afterward brought them to Evansville, Ind., where he located.
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The following year he became a resident of Haubstadt, Gibson county, and engaged in the manufacture of brick, in which he continued until he retired from active business, in 1876. His service in the United States army covered two terms in the regular and one in the volunteer army. He served throughout the Civil war and was captain of Company D, Thirty-second Indiana infantry. Christ Reister, Jr., was reared in Haub- stadt and secured his education in the schools of that town. He be- came an employe in his father's brickyard and remained in this occupa- tion until 1879, when he located in Cynthiana and engaged in the retail liquor business. In 1881 he established a general store and remained in this line of endeavor until 1903, when he retired. He was successful as a merchant and amassed a considerable fortune, which he has invested to advantage. Among his properties is a farm of 146 acres, situated one and one-half miles north of Cynthiana. Mr. Reister is best known to the citizens of Posey county through a residence of four years in Mt. Ver- non, during which time he occupied the office of treasurer of the county. He has for many years been actively identified with the political life of the county and has been a leader in the Democratic party, of whose pol- icies and principles he has been a consistent advocate. He served as in- spector of the election board of Smith township for ten years, has at- tended, as a delegate, state and congressional conventions and has been one of the mainstays of his party in the county. He was honored with the nomination for treasurer in 1906, and was elected by practically a unanimous vote, only seven ballots being in the count against him. His conduct of the business affairs of this office was marked by the same business acumen as had characterized his commercial career. He was elected to succeed himself in 1908. His record as treasurer will stand as highly creditable to himself and his constituents. Since retirement from the office he has been occupied in the management of his farm and supervision of his various investments. Mr. Reister married on Septem- ber 23, 1875, Miss Mary Triple, a daughter of George W. Triple of Haubstadt. They were the parents of one child, Ada Reister, born July 18, 1876, the wife of Jesse Wade, a successful lawyer of Mt. Vernon. Mrs. Reister died on October 19, 1879. On April 30, 1885, Mr. Reister married Miss Carry Deiteile, a daughter of Jacob and Anne M. Deiteile . of Mt. Vernon. She is a native of that city and her father was for many years engaged in the retail market business and one of the four butchers who conducted stalls in the old city market building, erected from the fund donated by Dan Rice, the famous clown and circus owner. Three children have been born of this second marriage of Mr. Reister, two of whom died in infancy. Carolyn Reister, born December 27, 1904, is a student in the Cynthiana schools. Mrs. Reister is a member of the Christian Science church and popular in the social life of her home town. The family residence is one of the handsomest in the county and noted
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