USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 60
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engaged in the watchmaking and jewelry business, being one of the first in that line of business in the city. In 1839 the family re- moved to Hermann, Mo., where they re- mained until the spring of 1846, when they again returned to Evansville and remained permanently. The mother died in 1870, and the father a few years later. The family consisted of eight children, two of whom survive. George A. Bittrolff was reared in Princeton, and Evansville, and secured a fair education in the public schools. He learned the trade of jeweler and watchmaker with his father, and in 1853 was given an interest in the business with his father and brother, J. L., jr. In 1859, he withdrew from the partnership thus formed, and for a time he engaged in busi- ness by himself. Later he was again asso- ciated with his father and brother, but in a short time went into business alone. The business increasing he took as a partner C. De Long, and two and a half years later sold out to De Long & Geisler. In 1860 he again entered business, and later took in with him C. F. Artes. This partnership lasted for about seven years. From that time until 1880, he was in business by him- self, and then turned over the business to his brother, John L. and his son John F. He then joined the Old Brewing company, and engaged in that business for about four years. In June, 1886, he again returned to the jewelry business, at which he has since continued. He was married in 1853, to Frederika Kroener, a native of Port De- posit, Md. To this union five children have been born, four of whom survive. Mr. Bit- trolff is a member of Crescent lodge, No. 122, I. O. O. F., and Daughters of Rebekah, and he and his wife are members of St. John's Evangelical church. His long and honorable career has lifted him to an
GEORGE A. BITTROLFF, for many years conspicuously identified with the business in- terests of Evansville, is best known as one of the most prominent jewelers in the city. He is a native of Mosbach, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, born July 27, 1831, and is the son of John L. and Johanna (Bestel) Bittrolff, both natives of the Grand Duchy of Baden. The parents emigrated to Amer- ica in 1832, and located at Youngstown, Penn., where they resided for two years, at the end of which time they removed to this city. A few weeks later they removed to Princeton, Ind., where they remained three years. Returning to Evansville the father | enviable prominence among the best citizens.
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CITIZENS OF EVANSVILLE.
JUDSON T. BURTIS, president of the Evans- ville Coffin company, was born in Center township, Vanderburgh county, Ind., Octo- ber 18, 1842, and is the son of Edward and Delia (Hopkins) Burtis. Edward Burtis was born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1807, and with his father, Jesse Burtis, came west to Cincinnati, thence down the Ohio river to Evansville, and settled in Vanderburgh county, in 1820. He was a farmer, well- known throughout the county, and died in 1873. Delia Burtis was a native of the state of New York, where she was born in 1808. She was the daughter of Stephen Hopkins, who was a brother to Edward, a distinguished pioneer and father of the late John S. Hopkins, one of the leading citizens of Evansville in his day. She died in 1876. Edward and Delia Burtis were the parents of eleven children, five of whom survive. Judson was reared on the farm until his seventeenth year, and attended the imperfect schools of the pioneer era, securing, however, a fair education. He engaged as a clerk in a gro- cery store at Mt. Vernon, in 1858, re- mained there until 1861, and then took a position as book-keeper for Ulhorn & Brinkman, in Evansville. While James H. McNeeley was postmaster of Evansville, Mr. Burtis entered the postoffice as an assist- ant, but was later made deputy postmaster. Leaving the postoffice he became book- keeper for Iglehart Bros.' mill, where lie re- mained eight years. While so engaged he purchased his father's interest in the cooper- age business of Burtis & Cody; the firm name was changed to Cody, Burtis & Co., and he has since been connected with the same. He became stockholder in the Evans- ville Coffin Co., in 1881, and four years later was chosen president of the company, which position he still holds. In the management of the company's affairs he has exercised commendable ability. During the war of 27
the rebellion Mr. Burtis was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment of Indiana volunteers, under Capt. Hollingsworth, and rendered effective serv- ice. Mr. Burtis was married in January, 1868, to Frances McGrew, who was born in Gibson county, Ind., in 1836, and is the daugh- ter of Wilson and Martha McGrew. To this union five children have been born, four of whom survive. They are: Minnie, deceased, Edward, Effie, May and Delia. Mr. and Mrs. Burtis are members of Trinity Metho- dist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM CAPELLE, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Evansville, is a native of the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was born near the city of Gottingen, Decem- ber, 1825. He came to America in 1845, leaving his native land in September, and arriving in New Orleans in November fol- lowing. He remained in New Orleans un- til July 6, 1846, and then located in Cincin- nati, where he remained until 1851. In this year he took up his residence in Evans- ville and established himself as a merchant tailor and dealer in clothing and furnishing goods, at the corner of Second and Main streets where Schlaepfer's drug store now stands. He succeeded in business, and in 1859 he erected the building on Main street now occupied by Goldsmith's clothing store, where he remained until 1863, when he retired from active trade on account of ill health. In 1865, he returned to Europe, and visited his old home in Hanover, re- maining there three months, traveling during the time through Germany, France and Switzerland. From 1863, for fifteen years, he was interested in the Evansville gas works, and during the time was one of the board of directors of the company. He sold his gas stock in 1877. He is now largely interested as a stockholder in the old National bank, He is no longer in active
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PERSONAL MENTION.
business. In retirement he enjoys the fruits of his past efforts, having accumulated a competence in his younger days. He was married in 1852, to Eliza Krom, who was born in Germany, and came to America with her parents in 1837.
J. S. MINNIS, the leading shirt manufact- urer and dealer in mens' furnishing goods, whose place of business is at No. 225 Main street, was born in Gibson county, Ind., February 14, 1834, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Sterns) Minnis, both parents being natives of Charleston, S. C., of Irish descent. At a very early date the parents came to Indiana and located in Gibson county. The mother died in 1837, and the father, in 1865. To these parents nine children were born, of whom only two sur- vive, they being Mrs. Elizabeth Pritchard, the oldest, and Mr. Minnis, the youngest, of the children. After the death of his mother, Mr. Minnis and his father made their home with the youngest daughter - Mrs. Samuel W. Woods - for fifteen years. Mrs. Woods died January 1, 1885. J. S. Minnis was reared on the farm, and secured a very good education in the public schools. His father was a brick mason, and with him he learned that trade, which he followed for some time. He came to Evansville in 1867, and four years later entered the business in which he is now engaged. With fair deal- ing and by keeping abreast of the times he has succeeded in building up a large and profitable trade. He is also interested in farming, owning and conducting a fine farm of eighty acres in Gibson county. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Minnis served in Company A, of the Forty-second Regi- ment of Indiana volunteers. His record as a soldier was honorable throughout. He is a member of the U. P. church, which he joined when about twenty-two years of age, and was baptised by Rev. John McMasters,
who for thirty years was pastor of the Princeton U. P. church. Mrs. McMasters, nee Margaret Sterns, was a full cousin of Mr. Minnis.
AUGUST SCHMITT, a leading wholesale and retail dealer in stoves, tinware, pumps, house-furnishing goods, etc., etc., at Nos. 605 and 607 Main street, Evansville, Ind., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born February 2, 1842, and is the son of Simon and Catharina (Bastian) Schmitt, both of whom were natives of Bavaria, and came to the United States in 1852. Coming west to Indiana they located in Scott township, Vanderburgh county, where a farm was purchased, and the father followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1876, at the age of 71 years. The mother is now a resident of Santa Claus, Spencer county, Ind., and is eighty-two years old. To the parents eleven children were born, four of whom survive. August attended school for four years in his native land, and came with his parents to America. He remained on the farm until 1859, and then went to Rus- sellville, Logan county, Ky., where he learned the tinner's trade, at which he served until the breaking out of the war. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company D of the Nineteenth U. S. infantry, and served three years. At the battle of Stone River, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., he was wounded in the left hip by a two-ounce ball from an Enfield rifle, the ball passing entirely through the hip, fracturing the bone. He now possesses the ball, which was cut out. He lay on the field of battle from 12 o'clock until night, with the fire of both armies passing over him. He was placed in a tent with ten other wounded soldiers thie night he was wounded, only four of whom were alive the next morning. He then passed ten months in hospitals at Nash- ville, Tenn., and at New Albany,
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Ind. Joining his regiment at Chat- tanooga just after the battle of Chicka- mauga, he did duty for a while, and soon after the battle of Mission Ridge, was again sent to the hospital at New Albany, whence he was sent to his regimental headquarters at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich. He was mustered out at Detroit in October, 1864. He then located and worked at his trade for six months, at Vincennes, Ind. Coming to Evansville at the end of this time he worked at his trade until 1865, and then engaged in business for himself. The following year he removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, and remained there until the fall of the same year, going thence to Mayfield, Ky., where he remained until 1872. Again returning to Evansville, he entered business, and has been here ever since. Mr. Schmitt is a member of Farragut Post, No. 27, G. A. R., at present quartermaster, and is also a mem- ber of the Catholic Knights of America. November 21, 1865, he was married to Magdalena Mesel, who was born in Posey county, Ind., in 1845. To this union four children have been born, as follows: Katie, Rosa, August P., and Simon A. Mr. Schmitt and his family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church. In politics he is a republican.
until January, 1885, and then began business at his present stand for himself. He carries an average stock of about $35,000, and does an annual business of over $100,000. He employs an average force of twenty clerks, and by industry, fair dealing, and close attention to business, has established himself in the favor of the people. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, K. of P., and K. and L. of H. Mr. McLean was married in 1869 to Maggie E. Allen, daugh- ter of the Rev. W. J. Allen, of Rockville, Ind. To this union one son, Hector Allen, was born June 9, 1883. Mrs. McLean is a member of the Walnut Street Presbyterian church.
JOHN LAWTON, a leading citizen, and one of the pioneer hardware merchants of this city, doing business at the corner of Main and Fifth streets, is a native of England, born at Sheffield, February 3, 1820, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gales) Lawton, both natives of England, who lived and died in Sheffield. Mr. Lawton was reared in his native place, and secured a fair common school education. In 1841, he came to America, and located in New Or- leans, where for several years he was en- gaged in the hardware business for other parties. He next located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and opened a hardware store for him- self. In 1869 he located in Evansville, and continued the same business, remaining so engaged to the present. His long experi- ence and perfect familiarity with the details of the hardware business has enabled him career he has done a large business, and to-day has one of the most complete stocks in the city. In 1846 he was married in Cin- cinnati to Eunice C. Platt, an English lady, who died March 5, 1887, at the age of fifty- eight years. Her father was Thomas Platt,
WILLIAM McLEAN, one of the leading retail dry goods men of Evansville, doing business at the corner of Main and Fourth streets, was born on the Isle of Skye, Scot- land, March 14, IS48. His boyhood was spent in his native country, where he received a common school education. He to succeed abundantly. Throughout his long came to America in 1870, and located in New York city, where he remained for one year. In 1871 he located in this city, and for eight years was connected with the dry goods house of Miller Bros. He next be- came a full partner in the dry goods firm of Keck, Miller & Co., where he remained an Englishman, who came to the United
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States in 1840. She was a member of the Episcopal church. To this union five chil- dren were born, only two of whom survive: Frank P., born in Cincinnati in 1854, edu- cated in the public schools of his native place, who in 1869 entered the hardware business with his father, and has so con- tinued to the present; Alice S., born in Cin- cinnati in 1856, was married in 1878 to Silas S. Scantlin, a member of the firm of Marsh & Scantlin, proprietors of the Evansville cracker works. Mr. Lawton and his son are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church, and the son is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge.
LOUIS GUERICH, a leading German citi- zen of Evansville, Ind., and engaged in the general fire and life insurance business, was born in Madison, Jefferson county, Ind., on February 22, 1847, and is the son of L. and Elizabeth (Aur) Guerich, both of whom were natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1844, locating at Madi- son, Ind., the same year. The father was born in 1807, and is still a resident of Madi- son. The mother was born in ISIS and died in 1854. Mr. Guerich was reared in Madison, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., and edu- cated in the public schools of the latter city. He enlisted in 1864 in the federal army in Company K, of the One Hundred Sixth Ohio infantry, being the youngest man in the regiment. He served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged at Cincinnati in 1865. He came to Evansville in March, 1868, and engaged in the manu- facture of saddle trees. Since 1873 he has been following his present business. He is a member of the Orion Lodge, No. 35, K. of P., being a charter member. He was married in 1875 to the daughter of Charles Hinks, of Evansville, and to this union two children have been born. In politics he is a staunch republican.
HERMANN FENDRICH, a prominent Ger- man citizen of Evansville, and propri- etor of the leading cigar manufactory of the city, was born in Baden, Germany, April 14, 1830, and is the son of Joseph and Walburga (Schieble) Fendrich, both natives of Baden. The father was born in 1804, and died in 1850. The mother was born in 1799, and died in 1849. They were married in Baden, Ger- many, on May 30, 1824, and emigrated to America in February, 1833, bringing with them four sons. Landing in New York city, the parents next removed to Philadel- phia, and then to Baltimore, where the mother died. The father was a cooper and brewer by trade, and also a mason, carpen- ter and contractor; indeed, he was a mechanical genius. His death occurred in Quincy, Ill., while on a visit to his sister, a resident of that city. The family comprised six children, five born in Germany and one in Baltimore. The children were as fol- lows: Joseph, born March 27, 1825, and died in 1876; Charles, born April 4, 1826, and died in 1878; Francis, born March 22, 1829, now of Dallas, Texas; Herman, born April 14, 1830; Amelia, born February 15, 1828, and died the same year; and John, born in Baltimore on July 24, 1824, now of Columbia, Penn. The subject of this men- tion began working in tobacco when quite young. In 1850 he engaged with his four brothers in the manufacture of cigars in Baltimore, Md. The brothers opened a branch house in Evansville, Ind., in Decem- ber, 1855, with Charles Fendrich in charge. Later Francis Fendrich took charge of the branch house, Charles returning to Balti- more. In 1857, May 30th, Hermann Fend- rich came to Evansville, and with his brother Francis conducted the business until 1865, when Francis withdrew from the firm and was succeeded by Joseph Fendrich. Joseph
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remained until his death in 1876, when Hermann purchased the interest of the heirs and has since conducted the business as sole proprietor and owner, manufacturing about 100,000 cigars monthly. Mr. Fendrich was married January 19, 1864, to Mary R., daughter of John A. Reitz, one of the lead- ing citizens of Evansville. To this union two children have been born - John H. and Laura G.
Prominent among the manufacturers of pottery and stoneware, which is one of the flourishing industries of Evansville, stands the firm of Bennighof, Uhl & Co. This partnership was formed in 1883, succeeding the Evansville Pottery company, which was established in 1879, really the date of the be- ginning of this manufacturing establishment. The firm manufactures stoneware exclu- sively, shipping the product west, and in 1887 the product reached the grand total of $100,000, and eighty-six men were em- ployed. AUGUST UIIL, a member of this firm, and a valuable citizen of Evansville, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, November 15, 1824. In his native land he received a good education, and learned the pottery business. After working there three years he came to the United States, July IS, 1846, and after brief periods spent at New York, Pittsburgh, and Louisville, came to Evansville in the spring of 1848, and here he has since re- sided. In 1849, he started in business for!
himself, with Henry Henn. This partner- ship lasted two years, and then Henn sold to Louis Daum. Three years later Mr. Uhl also sold out to Daum, and then he and his brother Louis were associated from 1854 to 1887, in the manufacture of stoneware. Mr. Uhl has been city councilman for four years, and in politics is a republican. He is a member of the Masonic order. He was married in Evansville, to Miss Caroline Bunte, a native of this city, and they had eighteen children in all, of whom but six are now liv- ing: Louisa, wife of Fred Hoffman, Emma, Bertha, Adolph B., Minnie and Matilda.
LOUIS UHL was born July 4, 1831, and is a brother of August, being the youngest of the six children of George Uhl, who was a tile manufacturer in Germany. But three of these children survive, August, Louis and Mrs. Eliza Jeckil. Louis arrived here in 1849, and began work at his trade, ulti- mately forming a partnership with his brother which lasted thirty-three years. He is now of the firm of Benninghof, Uhl & Co. Mr. Uhl was married April, 1858, to Miss Eliza -. beth Mann, born in Darmstadt, daughter of Martin Mann, and they have had six child- ren, of whom three sons are living, Charles, general claim agent of the E. & T. H. rail- road; George M., a partner in the pottery business, and Edgar M. Mr. Uhl and fam- ily are members of St. John's German Evan- gelical church.
CHAPTER XIV.
MILITARY HISTORY - WAR OF ISI2 - THE MEXICAN WAR - THE CIVIL WAR - HOME SCENES - FIRST TROOPS FOR THE FRONT - REGIMENTAL HISTORY - MIS- CELLANEOUS LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN - INDIANA LEGION - THE DRAFTS - BOUNTY AND RELIEF - MILITIA COMPANIES - GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
ATRIOTISM best displays itself in times of war. Human nature is such, that extraordinary delights flow from the graphic account of a brilliant and successful campaign, or the vivid depiction of a desperate encounter on the field of bat- tle. Manœuvres, indicating generalship of a high character, and the heroic endeavors of the humblest soldier, who patiently en- dures the severe trials and hardships of the march, the skirmish and the battle, attract the interest of all. Again, the disputed questions which lie back of, and produce, war among civilized people, generally involve the material and psychical welfare of a large portion of mankind, and their settlement marks the epochs in the advancement or retrogression of the race. Such questions take a firm hold upon the hearts of the peo- ple, and when they become crystalized into facts, are not easily effaced from the mem- ory. The maintenance of man's inalienable rights, the determination to have their en- joyment in no way abridged, the rescue of a
fair land from indolent bar- barism, the salvation of the Union and the freedom of a race of bondsmen have at various times led the people of the United States into the arena of war. None of these struggles have left a blot upon the fair escutcheon of the country. A review of the various wars, which have from time to time engaged the Republic, a discussion of the issues which led up to them and the influ-
ence of their results upon the progress of mankind and the development of civilization, and a portrayal of the campaigns made and the battles fought by the contending forces will not be attempted in this work. These are a part of the glorious national history and a knowledge of them on the part of the reader is presumed in the account of what Vanderburgh county and her citizens have done in acting out the war scenes in the drama of national history, which alone is at- tempted here. Such information, the sources of which are abundant and accessible to all, is indispensable to a correct appreciation of the valiant services of those whose achieve- ments in the struggles for a higher civili- zation and a larger measure of human lib- erty, entitle them to the grateful remem- brance of the beneficiaries of their acts.
War of 1812 .- Before the county of Van- derburgh had been organized, settlers within its limits were called upon to perform mili- tary duties. Those early hunters and trap- pers were at first far from the centres of civilization, and little was demanded of them for the common defense of the coun- try. Some, however, were found in the meagre armies that were wresting a fair land from the grasp of the barbarians, and others helped to achieve the early victories over the British which imparted a lustre to the American flag. A few heroic men joined Gen. Harrison from this part of the country, and did effective service at Tip-
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pecanoe and elsewhere. It is not possible to ascertain the names of all those who went from within the confines of what is now Vanderburgh county. The pioneer, George Linxweiler, was drafted for this service while living on the old Whetstone farm, but his son George was accepted as a substi- tute, served throughout Gen. Harrison's campaign, and was wounded at Tippecanoe. John Fickas, Thomas Skillett, Samuel But- ler and Elisha Brumfield, were drafted for the defense of New Orleans, during the war of ISI2. They went with the hunters of Kentucky, to swell the ranks of Gen. Jackson in his campaign against Gen. Pak- enham. After Jackson's great victory at New Orleans, they were discharged and set out for home on foot. They walked all the way, sleeping in the woods and killing game for their support on the long and wearisome journey. This was before the era of steam- boats and newspapers in the west, and they brought with them the first intelligence received at the Red Banks or in the Green river settlement of the result of the battle of New Orleans.
The Early Militia .- The militia, which had done effective service in the Indian wars, was fostered by the early laws of the state. All able-bodied men of proper age were enrolled, and required to attend drills in mil- itary tactics at certain stated times. At first the people took an active interest in learn- ing. the different military movements, and studied in their rude way the strategies of war. Each man furnished a gun in the beginning, and all were skilled in the manual of arms. Musters took place several times a year, and were gener- ally held at the county seat or some other important point in the county. They were attended by large and motley crowds, and when a long period of peace had impaired their efficiency, they partook of the nature invariably took place at the county seat, and
of holidays. As the men were privileged from arrest on "training days," a general jollification usually took place, liquors were freely imbibed, young men resorted to fist fights to try their mettle and settle old grudges, and all sorts of fun of the rougher and more boisterous kind, known in early times, was indulged in. The system was maintained, though impaired, until the time of the Mexican war. The following account of these old-time musters is furnished by Mr. Ira Fairchild:
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