USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 58
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where he escaped and reported to Adam Johnson, in Kentucky, with Morgan's com- mand. At Cynthiana, Ky., in 1864, on Mor- gan's last raid, he was wounded by being shot through the left arm and left lung, and again taken prisoner, and was confined at Camp Chase, Ohio, for about four months and a half. Then being sent to Richmond, Va., and exchanged, he reported to his com- mand in North Carolina, and soon after- ward peace was declared. After the war he returned to Henderson and engaged at his trade, and resided there and carried on business until March, 1875, when he came to Evansville and formed a partnership with his brother, William H. Woods and continued with him until 1881, and then engaged in business for himself. Mr. Woods was mar- ried July 24, 1866, to Octavia Epperson, who was born in Kentucky in 1842, and is the daughter of William Epperson. To this union seven children have been born, five of whom survive, as follows: William R., George E., Rosa A., Elizabeth B., and Annie. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are . members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Mr. Woods is a member of the B. M. A., and is a member of Evansville Lodge, No. 63, F. & A. M., and of La Vallette Commandery, K. T.
WILLIAM H. WOODS, a well-known citizen of Evansville, Ind., and a leading steamboat and house painter of the city, was born in Philadelphia on January 7, 1837, and was chiefly reared in Louisville, Ky., where he secured a limited education. In the spring of 1851 he began learning the trade of painting, and in December, 1854, came to Evansville on a visit to a sister. While visiting this city he was induced to locate here, and subsequently began following his trade, and is now one of the oldest painters in the city in point of local experience. He painted the first steamboat brought here for
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the Evansville & Cairo packet line. Mr. Woods was married on May 25, 1858, to Hannah S. Epperson, who was born Janu- ary 4, 1840, and died December 18, 1864, leaving three children, one of whom, Charles, survives, and is at present a partner of his father in the business. On July 17, 1866, Mr. Woods was married to Hannah J. Davidson, who was born in Pennsylvania, on Febru- ary 8, 1843, and to this union nine children have been born, six of whom survive, as follows: William D., Harry, Mary, Ro- nald F., Walter and Arthur. Mr. Woods is a member of the B. M. A., and of the Royal Arcanum fraternity, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F., and K. of P. lodges. Mrs. Woods is the daughter of Joshua and Matilda Davidson. Her father was one of the pioneers of Vanderburgh county, and was an early justice of the peace of Evans- ville. The parents of Mr. Woods were Richard and Mary A. (Taylor) Woods. Richard was born in Manchester, England, on November 19, 1779, and Mary Taylor was born in Liverpool, England, on Decem- ber 1, 1805. They were married in Man- chester, England, on January 27, 1829, and in 1836, they emigrated to America, and located in Philadelphia, Penn. Richard Woods was a millwright and pattern-maker by trade and followed that vocation in England, and then in Philadelphia. In about 1840 he was induced to come west to Daviess county, Ind., under contract to erect a mill. Two years were spent on this contract, he receiving in part payment for the same forty acres of land. Complet- ing his contract, he removed his family to Louisville, Ky., making the trip across the country in wagons. His death occurred in Louisville, on July 23, 1846. Mary A. Taylor was the daughter of John and Ann Taylor, and she also died in Louisville, on March 7, 1852, To their union sixteen chil-
dren were born, only three of whom sur- vive. Both parents were married previous to their union, and a son of the father's first marriage and a daughter of the mother's first marriage survive, the son residing in Illinois and the daughter in St. Louis.
GEORGE LORENZ, a native of Germany, was born May 20, 1842. His parents, Jacob and Madeline (Meinart) Lorenz, were born in Germany in 1804 and 1813, respect- ively, and died in their native country, the father at the age of eighty-one years, the mother at the age of sixty-six years. Before coming to the United States, George Lorenz learned the baker's trade, but he never fol- lowed it in this country. He resided in New York city one year, came to Evansville in 1865 and soon thereafter began the wine and liquor business, in which he has since con- tinued. He accumulated money rapidly, and in 1872 purchased the property which he now occupies at the corner of Second and Division streets, at a cost of $21,000. By careful and economical management he has continued to add to his property possessions. In 1866 he was married to Madeline Schauss, a native of Posey county, Ind., born in 1848. They have one daughter, Lena. Mr. Lorenz occupies a prominent place among the social orders of the city, being a member of the I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., K. of H., Druids and Harugari fraternities. He and his wife are members of St. John's Evangelical church.
Among the enterprising business men who by their own efforts have attained prominence as public men, may be men- tioned THOMAS BULLEN, who served in the city council from 1877 to 1881, at which time he was appointed chief of the fire department, holding this responsible position for five years. The son of Daniel and Elizabeth Ann (Kimpton) Bullen, and the youngest of eight children, only two of
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whom are now living, this gentleman was native of Pennsylvania, born in 1822, and born in England, February 3, 1837. In the public schools of his native country he re- ceived some rudimentary instruction, but at the early age of twelve years he under- took to learn the baker's trade. Emigrating to the United States in 1852, he settled in Evansville, and at once entered the ser- vice of Edward Bowles, the well-known liveryman, continuing therein until 1854, when he began business for himself as a teamster. At that time he obtained the con- tract for sprinkling the streets of the city, and so acceptable has been his service that he has continued in the performance of this public duty to the present. His business ventures proving successful, Mr. Bullen en- tered the livery business in 1867, and soon gained a large patronage. His stables, now located on Upper Fifth street, at Nos. 13, 15 and 17, are commodious, well stocked, well equipped, and so managed as to deserve and receive substantial public support. In political life Mr. Bullen has been a consistent democrat, his faithful services to his party having been rewarded by the recognition, with mention of which he was introduced in this connection. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. His marriage occurred in 1854, to Miss Martha Hitch, a native of England, born in 1838, who came to America with her parents when eleven years of age. Eight children were born of this union, four of whom are now living: Elizabeth Ann, John T., Lauretta and Will- iam H.
JOHN J. GOODWIN, JR., of the firm of Har- rison, Goodwin & Co., though not identified with the business interests of this city until recent years, has become well-known by reason of his business ability and integrity. A son of William M. and Marietta ( Wilbur) Goodwin, the eldest of six children, he was born August 4, 1842. His father was a
his mother a native of Indiana, born in 1826; the former died at Anna, Ill., in 1886, the latter in Hardin county, Ill., 1873. These parents gave their son the benefits of a com- mon school education, and when the civil war was actively commenced they gave him to their country's service. Enlisting in No- vember, 1861, in Company F, Forty-ninth Indiana infantry, he served honorably for three years, receiving a wound at Vicksburg, December 29, 1863, and being honorably dis- charged in November, 1864. Returning to civil life, he established himself at Cave-in- Rock, Ill., as a general merchant and pro- duce dealer, and engaged successfully as such for a period of twenty years. Coming to Evansville in ISS5, for a time he busied himself as a trader and speculator, and in April, 1888, became a member of the firm with which he is now associated. He is also connected with the firm of Pleasants, Good- win & Co., jeans pants manufacturers. Politically he entertains the views of the democratic party, and religiously those of the Methodist Episcopal church. A firm believer in the good accomplished by frater- nal orders, he is connected with lodges of the F. & A. M., K. of P., and K. of H. In 1870 his marriage occurred to Miss Nora C. Mitchell, who was born in Hardin county, Ill., in 1848. Three children, Leila, Daisy, and Mabel, have been born to these parents.
For twenty-four years the stove and tin business has been represented in this city by the Thiele family. ANTHONY THIELE was born in Germany, January 25, 1827, and came to the United States in 1852, settling in Boston, Mass. His wife, Julia (Corco- ran) Thiele, was born in Ireland in 1835, and died in this city when thirty-seven years of age. The family came to Evansville in the spring of 1864. The eldest of their eight children was IGNATIUS A., born in Bos-
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ton, Mass., January 23, 1855. Upon his arrival here the elder Thiele began the stove and tin business, which has been continued by father and son ever since, Ignatius hav- ing been admitted to partnership in 1872. Since 1870 their place of business has been at Nos. 108 and IIo Upper Third street, where a full line of stoves, tinware, and house- furnishing goods are offered for sale. The reputation for honesty and fair dealing es- tablished by the senior member of the house is being maintained by the younger man, who is recognized as an enterprising trader. They are the only agents in this part of the state of the celebrated Round Oak heating stoves.
The dye house of HENRY BUTTS is an old establishment. Its proprietor came to Evans- ville in 1850, since which time he has been a well-known citizen. He was born in Northampton (now Monroe) county, Penn., December 4, 1809. His parents, Jacob and Christina (Arnold) Butts, were natives of that state, and died in the county named. At the age of ten years Henry Butts was forced to make his own way in life, and as soon as he had reached his majority he moved to Genesee county, N. Y., where he remained until 1834. When he came to Evansville he was penniless, and for a time lived in poverty, being unable to find profit- able employment. In 1839 he was married to Miss Cornelia E. Hinman, of Geneva, N. Y., then in her nineteenth year. Through enterprising effort and rigid economy Mr. Butts soon gained a foothold in the pros- perous city, and now after years of toil, hav- ing gained a competence, he enjoys the fruits of his enterprise. In 1863 his wife departed this life, three children being left to mourn the loss of a mother. Mrs. Eliza- beth Murdock, born in Italy, became his wife in 1867.
JOHN HENRY KREIPKE, for many years
a well-known cooper in this city and a worthy citizen, was born in Germany, February 4, 1822. His parents, John Carl and Jo- hanna Kreipke, were natives of Germany and died in this city in 1876 and 1878, re- spectively, each having lived more than four score years of usefulness. He was the sec- ond of three children, only one of whom survives. His boyhood was spent in the schools of his native place, and at the age of fourteen years he began to learn the cooper's trade, at which he worked in Ger- many until 1845, when he sailed for the United States. Landing at New Orleans, La., he remained in that city a few months and then came to Evansville in the early days of 1846. Here he continued to work at his trade, and later formed a partnership with James W. Wiltshire, with whom he was in business for thirty-five years, or until his death, which occurred January 5, 1887. Beginning life with no other capital than the endowments of nature he acted manfully throughout a long career and obtained a pleasing measure of success. He was mar- ried October 31, 1866, to Mrs. Caroline Theiman ( whose maiden name was Peulen), born in Germany, March 2, 1826. Her mother dying in Germany in 1837, she came to the United States in 1845 with her father, who four years later died in this city in his fifty-second year. Mrs. Kreipke is a mem- ber of the German Lutheran church, and a highly respected lady.
Among the enterprising citizens who came from beyond the sea to Evansville, soon after it became a city, was John George Miller, for many years identified, as a leader, with the retail boot and shoe trade of the city. He was born January 25, 1819, in Delkenheim, Nassau, Germany; was married in 1848, to Miss Catharine Christina Bastert, born in 1817, a native of Bielefeld, Westphalia, Germany, and landed
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in this city as an immigrant, near the last of June, of the same year. His death occurred in this city, June 1, 1887, and that of his wife, July 21, 1873. These pioneers were the parents of six children, one of whom, EMIL GEORGE MILLER, born October 3, 1853, is now a dealer in boots and shoes, in part- nership with John George Diehl, doing business at No. 501 Main street. Emil George Miller received the rudiments of his intellectual training in the public schools of the city; at the age of thirteen began to work in his father's store, and ever since that time, excepting a period of seven years, has been actively engaged as a retail boot and shoe merchant, with varying degrees of success. January 21, 1875, he was married to Catherine Roehrig, who was born in Warrick county, Ind., May 27, 1854. Mr. Miller became a member of the I. O. O. F. in 1878. His family, now containing five children, are members of St. John's church.
JOHN GEORGE DIEHL, of the firm of Miller & Diehl, shoe dealers at No. 501 Main street, was born in Iggelheim, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, January 16, 1850. His parents, Leonard and Apollonia (Hirsch) Diehl, were Ba- varians, born respectively in 1823 and 1822. Both died in the country of their nativity, the former in 1863, the latter in 1858. The eld- est daughter of these people came to this city from Germany in 1865, and died here at the age of twenty-one years. Her brother, John George Diehl, learned the trade of a shoemaker in his native town, but in the summer of 1866 he emigrated to the United States, and came at once to Evans- ville. For about four years after reaching this place he worked at his trade, but at length accepted a clerkship in the shoe store of George Miller & Co., where he remained until 1872. In March of that year he went to Europe, to obtain a legacy which had been left him. When Mr. Diehl first de-
termined to leave his native land, he was un- able, because of the war of that period, to obtain a passport, but this was not allowed to prevent his departure. However, upon his return to that country, in 1872, he was com- pelled to serve in the German army two and a half years before he could obtain the legacy for which he had crossed the ocean. Re- turning to Evansville in 1874, he resumed his place in the employ of Miller & Co., where he remained, save a brief period, un- til 1888. In March of this year, the firm, of which he is now a member, was established. He was married, November 19, 1874, to Elizabeth Pale, who was born in Iggelheim, Germany, February 14, 1855, and who came to the United States in 1874. He and his wife belong to the Roman Catholic church.
Henry Klee came from Germany in 1848, settled at Evansville, and three years later commenced the business of an under- taker in which he continued until 1886. He was born in Germany March 5, 1818, and died in Evansville, April 22d, ISSS. His wife was Clara Kratz, herself a native of Germany, born December 18, 1827, and now residing in this city. These people always commanded the respect of their neighbors. JOHN KLEE, a son of these early settlers, now an undertaker at Nos. 217 and 219 Ingle street, was born October 21, 1852, in this city. He received a common school education and in 1878 began business in partnership with his father. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Katie Blaier, daughter of Michael and Barbara (Stain- hilber) Blaier, very worthy people. Mr. Klee and wife are members of St. John's church; the former is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Knight of Honor.
Thrift and persistent effort which yield not to adversity are essential to a realization of hopes. Men are called self-made when they attain prominence after being thrown
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upon their own resources in the struggles for wealth, power and social supremacy which characterize the present era. The effective help of friendly hands is lost sight of and all credit is given to the individual effort. But valuable friendship is itself a possession which only manly qualities com- mand. So he who starts empty-handed in the race of life and at his prime has gath- ered about him those things which bespeak successful endeavor, may be said to have made his own way. A man of this type is JOHN H. FINK, who was born in Germany, October 28, 1840, being the son of Magnus and Susannah (Vaubel) Fink. He was educated in his native country, and emi- grated to the United States in 1856, coming at once to Vanderburgh county, and settling on a farm. After a year's work on the farm he came to Evansville and learned the saddler's trade, at which he labored until 1870. At the close of the civil war he moved to Morganfield, Ky., where he re- mained until ISSI, at which time he returned to Evansville, and for three years carried on the carriage business. At the present time he is engaged as a whole- sale and retail dealer in ice, at No. 124 Upper Water street. In politics Mr. Fink has been an earnest democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan. While at Morganfield, Ky., notwithstanding his political complexion, he was postmaster for seven years under Pres- ident Grant. In 1886 he was nominated for county treasurer by the democratic party, and, though running ahead of his ticket, failed to be elected. Believing in the good accomplished by fraternal orders, he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty years, and is also connected with the K. of H. and A. O. U. W. Hemarried in 1864 Elizabeth Georget, who came to America from Germany, when but two years of age.
FREDERICK W. RUFF, doing a general dry goods business at No. 221 Main street, Evansville, Ind., is a native of New York city, having been born there October 23, 1850. His parents, Rev. Frederick and Elizabeth Ruff, were natives of Germany, 1827 and 1832 were the dates of their births, respectively. The former still lives at Mt. Vernon, Ind., the latter died in 1864. The Rev. Frederick Ruff came to the United States when twenty-one years of age, and settled in New York city. After a resi- dence of twenty-six years in the east, he emigrated to the west, and educated his son at New Albany, Ind., and Louisville, Ky. The subject of this mention came to Evans- ville in 1873, and in the following year was employed in the dry goods house of Huds- peth, Miller & Co., where he continued as a clerk until 1886. In this year the business house now known as F. W. Ruff & Co., at at 221 Main street, was established. De- cember 22, 1887, the property of the firm was destroyed by fire, at a considerable loss. A new building was at once erected and business again actively engaged in. The house now enjoys a profitable trade. In 1875 Mr. Ruff was married to Carrie Ber- ges, who was born at Charleston, Ind., in 1856. The family consists of three child- ren, Edwin, Frederick and John. In politics Mr. Ruff is an earnest republican; he is a member of the K. of H., and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church ..
FIDELIO T. HODGE, born January 30, 1817, is a native of Livingstone county, Ky. His parents, Thomas and Harriet (Barnes ) Hodge, were natives of North Carolina, and with the pioneers who drifted from that sec- tion over into western Kentucky in the early part of the nineteenth century, migrated from their native home. It was in 1805 that they settled in the then wild west. There
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they lived and died, the father in 1837, the mother in 1850, each at the age of sixty years. The family consisted of nine child- ren. Their lives were simple and their manners plain. All labored together for the common support. The subject of this sketch made his home at his father's cabin until he was twenty-five years of age. At that age he went to Golconda, Ill., and for some time was engaged there as a clerk. From 1840 to 1846 he added materially to his fortune by trading along the coasts of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with the flat-boats and store boats that were so com- mon at that period. Returning to Golconda, be began the business of a dry goods mer- chant, and continued so occupied until 1863, when he removed to Evansville. In the following year his business house at No. 200 Water street was erected at a cost of $27,000, where, ever since, he has been engaged in the wholesale liquor trade. During the twenty-four years of his residence here, he has been signally success- ful in business. Mr. Hodge has been twice married. In 1847 he was united in marriage with Julia A. Giffith, whose death occurred in I861. Two years later, Miss Rose White, a native of New Orleans, La., born in 1838, became his wife. Of the first union seven children were born, Henry, Richard, Sally, Edwin, Clinton, all now deceased, and In- diana and Mary Agnes, now living; of the second marriage there are three children: Rose, Flora and Maydell.
Industry, intelligence, and integrity, when combined in practice, guarantee success. The business house of Evans & Verwayne has been fortunate in having these qualities predominate in the components of those who control its career. SAMUEL G. EVANS, the senior member of the firm, was born in Jack- son county, W. Va., March 19, 1839. His father, E. S. Evans, was born in Morgan-
town, Va., in 1800, and died in his native state in 1876. His mother, Ruami (Wright) Evans, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1806, and died in Jackson county, Va., in 1882. The father was an old time gentleman farmer. It was on his farm that the boy- hood of young Evans was passed. After exhausting all educational facilities near his home he was sent to Washington College in Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1861. For a short time thereafter he pur- sued the study of law. Leaving the east he came to Evansville, and entered the service of the Adams Express company. In 1864 he began his career as a dry goods mer- chant, entering the house of Jaquess, French & Co., and two years later became associ- ated, as junior partner, with the firm of Jaquess, Hudspeth & Co., where he re- mained for about eight years. In part- nership with D. J. Mackey, under the firm name of S. G. Evans & Co., he opened an establishment in 1876, at 211 Main street, where for some time a successful business was conducted. In ISSo the firm of Evans & Verwayne was organized. The volume of business transacted by the house has in- creased annually, the past year showing a decided improvement over any preceding year. This success has been due in a large measure to the untiring zeal, constant watch- fulness and unswerving probity of the senior proprietor, who, by his deserts, ranks among the leading merchants of the city of Evans- ville. A democrat in politics, faithfully ex- ercising the rights of citizenship, Mr. Evans is never offensive to political opponents in the enunciation of his principles. He is a member of the F. & A. M. order. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Louisa Horn- brook, born in 1842, near Evansville, a de- scendant of very worthy pioneers who acted an honorable and conspicuous part in the early history of Vanderburgh county. To
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these parents three daughters have been born, Carrie H., born 1870; Kate F., born 1874, and Della J., born 1876. Mr, Evans is a trustee of Willard Library and of the public schools.
· An honorable career as a retail merchant has been achieved by ANTHONY VERWAYNE, who is yet in the prime of life. He has ascended the ladder of prosperity, through no daring leap, but by steadily advancing from round to round. July 29, 1841, was the date, and the town of Wehl, Holland, kingdom of Netherlands, the place of his birth. His parents, John and Anna (Teun- nessen) Verwayne, natives of Holland, emi- grated to the United States in 1845, and · settled in Vanderburgh county, where, after years of useful and respectable citizenship, they died, the former in 1865, when sixty- two years old, the latter in 1859, at the age of fifty-eight years. He made use of such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools of the pioneer era in In- diana, and at the age of fourteen years com- menced the practical education of a business man in the trying school of experience. For ten years he was employed in the dry goods houses of J. P. Byrne and John S. Hopkins, at the end of which time he began traveling as a representative of the house of H. Feldman & Co., of this city, and later represented on the road A. and J. Trouen- stine & Co., of Cincinnati. His career as a commercial tourist continued for twenty years, and was marked with signal success. Everywhere popular, stead- fast always in his adherence to honorable methods and never unmindful of his em- ployer's interests, he built up an enviable rep- utation. In 1880 the well-known dry-goods house of Evans & Verwayne was estab- lished. Its affairs have been safely and judiciously conducted, and the house is now among the leaders of its kind in this part of
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