USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 81
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war, and made his home in Virginia. Here he was married to a Miss Den- ton. They raised a family of eleven children, ten sons and one daughter. One of these sons, William D., was born March 30, 1760. He worked on a farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the revolutionary war, and served until in- dependence was achieved. He then re- turned to Virginia, and afterward emi- grated to Tennessee, where he was married to a Miss Shelton. They were the parents of twelve children; subsequently, this wife having died, he married in 1816, Mrs. Susanah Hudson, a widow with eight child- ren. She was a native of North Carolina, born March 12, 1781, daughter of William and Amelia (Retherford) McDonald. To this marriage these children were born: Calvin McDonald, born 1817; James L., born July 1, 1819; Henry M., born April 26, IS21; Rachel H. born September 16, 1823, and Isabel P., born January 29, 1826. Rachel H., was born in Butler county, Ky., and when four years of age she accompanied her parents Warrick county, Ind. They settled in the vicinity of Boonville, in the fall of IS27. What little schooling she obtained was in that county, being often compelled to walk three miles or more to find a school of any kind. She was married in Warrick county to Rich- ard Robeson Purdue, July 18, 1841. Prior to the revolutionary war, Richard Robeson Purdue, Louis Gregory Purdue, and another brother emigrated from France and settled in South Carolina. When the war broke out one of the brothers went with Washington and the other with Marion, and both fought until the close of the war. Richard was married before he entered the army and had three children. In all, he was the father of twenty-two sons, when his wife diee .. He was married the second time and
had one son, Howell Gregory Purdue. His second wife dying, he was married again and had another son, Jarrett Purdue. He then died, and his widow married a French - man, Gabriel Visor. Howell Gregory, Richard Purdue's only son by his second wife, was married August 25, 1814, to Miss Nancy Jane Dixon, whose mother was. Ellen (Evans) Dixon. She and her husband were both natives of South Carolina, where he was born October 21, 1790, and she Decem- ber 30, 1795. They were married in Ken- tucky, but made their home in Tennessee. They were the parents of eleven children, viz .: Richard Robeson, born February 3, 1816, Jarrett G., Ellen E., William D., An- drew V., Howell G., Basil B., Susan, Oliver L., and Nancy J. They were born in Mont- gomery county, Tenn., except the last four, natives of Warrick county. The parents emigrated from Tennessee to Kentucky in December, 1829, and the next fall reaching Warrick county. His death occurred July 5, 1850, and she passed away February 4, 1868. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Richard R. Purdue resided in different parts of Warrick and Spencer counties until 1853, when they removed to Marion county, Ill., in which place they resided until his death, October 2, 1858. They were the parents of nine children: Jarrett G., born June 10, 1842, who enlisted in 1861 as a private in the Twenty-fifth Indiana volunteer infantry, and after participating in the battle of Shiloh, died near Corinth, Miss., June 10, 1862; Susan M., born September 5, 1843, died November 2, 1844; William H., born August 30, 1846; Orrin C., born June 24, 1848; Richard H., born April 9, 1853; Sam - uel D., born March 13, 1856, and James B., born February 6, 1858. After her husband's death, she returned to Warrick county, where she was married to Rufus Roberts, the marriage taking place in April, 1859.
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Two sons resulted from this union: Rufus J., born October 12, 1860, died in infancy, and Union B., born April 14, 1862. When the latter was only a few weeks old, she and Mr. Roberts separated, since which time she has remained a widow, and made her home in Warrick county, until the summer of 1886, when she removed to the city of Evansville, where she still resides with her youngest child.
DR. S. RUARK, an old and prominent physician of Center township, was born in Richland county, Ill., July 17, 1825. He is the son of Reason and Mary J. (Banks) Ruark. The former was born in Maryland about ISoo, and the latter in the south a few years later. In 1844 he left the farm and came to Evansville, where he remained a short time, and then went to Memphis, Tenn., and spent the winter. In the spring of 1845, he returned to Evansville, and entered upon the study of medicine, reading with Drs. Wilcox and Lane for two years, and then with Dr. Casselberry for one year. He graduated from the old Evansville Med- ical College about 1850, having practiced for two years before graduating. After graduating, he continued the practice of medicine in Evansville for two years, in Henderson county, Ky., for six years, in New Harmony for six years. He then returned to Evansville, and has remained in that city and vicinity until the present time. At present he resides four miles north of the city on the Fulton avenue road, where he owns a farm of over sixty acres of land, on which he has a pleasant, comfortable home, and an orchard containing a large variety of fruit grown in this vicinity. Dr. Ruark was married November 6, 1849, to Julia Ann Rogers, a native of this county, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Mar- quess) Rogers. Mrs. Ruark died May 3, 1869, aged forty years, nine months and
eighteen days. On April 6, 1870, he was married to Miss Sophia Blakey, who was born in Virginia about 1848. They are the parents of a son, born May 19, ISS8. They are both members of the Methodist Episco- pal church. In politics the doctor is a republican.
ROBERT RUSTON, a prominent citizen of Center township, was born in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England, April 6, 1812, the son of Richard and Mary (Farmor) Ruston. He was married October 25, 1835, to Lydia Grant, born May 2, 1812. On April 6, 1837, he left England, bringing with him his wife and one son. He stopped en route at Cleveland, after which he came to this county and settled in Scott township, where he engaged in farming. Here he re- mained about ten years and then removed to Campbell township, Warrick county, where he lived about thirty years, when he returned to Vanderburgh county, this time settling in Center township, where he now resides. Mr. Ruston is the father of six children by his first wife: Matthew, born July 26, 1836; Mary, December 30, 1838; Daniel, May 24, 1840; Henry, October 13, 1841; James C., March 10, 1843, and Andrew, July 22, 1844, all born in this county except Matthew, who is a native of Eng- land. Three are dead, Ephriam, Jane and Henry, a member of the Sixty-fifth Indiana, died at Knoxville, Tenn., December 14, 1864. Mrs. Ruston died February 3, 1846. Mr. Ruston was a second time married August 26, 1846, to Mrs. Mary Dodd, a widow with three children. Mr. Ruston was the father of one child by his second wife, Ephriam, who was born August 31, 1850. Mr. Rus- ton was again left a widower April 29, ISSO. September 25, 1881, he married Miss Maria Carr, born August II, I833, daughter of Henry and Mary (Toland) Carr, natives of the north of Ireland. Mr.
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Ruston is a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Ruston is a devout Catholic.
H. WILLIAM SCHNELLE was born in Brunswick, Germany, December 2, 1840, the son of William and Hannah (Bertram) Schnelle. He accompanied his parents to the United States, landing at New Orleans in the spring of 1854. They settled first in German township and then removed to the farm in Center township, where the son now resides. Here his father died in March, 188I, his wife having preceded him, Feb- ruary 20, 1879. In August, 1862, Mr. Schnelle enlisted as a private in Company E, Thirty-second Indiana volunteer infantry, the first German regiment from Indiana. He was mustered out June, 1865. During his term of service he participated in some of the principal battles of the war. At Perryville he was taken prisoner, but was paroled the next day. At Chickamauga he was severely wounded in the left side of the head, which gives him a great deal of trouble yet, the bone pressing against the brain. This wound rendered him unfit for duty until the spring of 1864, when he re- turned to his regiment, then in east Ten- nessee, and was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, and after Sherman went on to the sea his regiment remained in the vicinity of Atlanta until he was mustered out. After he returned home he took a course in the Evansville Commercial College, kept books for nearly two years, and was in the grocery business one year, and then came to the farm, where he has since resided. He was married in the spring of 1867 to Miss Margaret Soesser, daughter of Simon Soesser. He is the father of seven children, viz .: Henry W., William S., Minnie, Ed- ward, August, Frederick and Simon. Mr. Schnelle and family are members of the Evangelical church. He is a republican
politically. He owns a farm of about forty acres, nearly all in cultivation. He and family are among the best citizens of the township. His wound, received at Chickamauga, causes him to be subject to attacks of epilepsy. He draws a pension of $30 per month for this injury, which but slightly compensates for it.
JACOB KUNZ, an old resident of Center township, was born in Germany May 19, 1828, son of Conrad and Elizabeth Kunz. His father died when he was only a few months old, and his mother ten years later. He emigrated to the United States in 1850, arriving at New York in January of that year, and in May reached Evansville. Jan- uary 27, 1857, he was married to Mrs. Car- oline L. Schlag, the widow of John Schlag. She was born in Germany February 2, 1822, daughter of John Haberer. Her parents both died in Germany. After their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Kunz settled on the farm where he still resides, where at first there was but little cleared land on the place of ninety-four acres. Now it is all cleared except twenty-five acres. He and his wife are the parents of three children: Elizabeth, born November 11, 1857, who died Septem- ber, 1869; Anna, born 1864, who died in infancy, and David G., born September 16, 1859. Mrs. Kunz died October 12, 1884. Mr. Kunz and family are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a re- publican. He is one of the well-to-do farm- ers, and has always been an honest, indus- trious man.
CHRISTIAN F. SCHLAG, son of John Schlag and his wife Caroline (afterward Mrs. Kunz), is now a prominent farmer of this township, where he was born September 16, 1852. He was married November 19, 1879, to Miss Anna Freyling, who was born in Warrick county, April 8, 1857, the daughter of Stephen and Anna (Pickett)
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Freyling. They are the parents of two children: Louis S., born June 2, 1882, and David G., born February 25, 1884. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a republican.
CONRAD SCHMIDT, a venerable farmer of this township, was born in Bavaria, February 15, 1810, the son of Andrew and Christina Schmidt. When he was fourteen his mother died and his father married again. After leaving school he was employed as a shoemaker. In 1832, he, together with his father, stepmother, four brothers, one sister and two step-sisters emigrated to the United States. After two years at New Orleans they came to this county in the spring of 1834, and settled in the woods on the farm where he now resides. Conrad's father died in 1839, and his stepmother lived until about ten years ago. Mr. Schmidt was married September 10, 1839, to Miss Mary Schwab, who was born in Switzerland, July 8, 1822, daughter of Christian and Catherine Schwab. When about twelve years of age she accompanied her parents from Switzer- land to this county, spending four years at Pittsburgh, and arriving at Evansville in the spring of 1838. They remained about three years in Evansville, and then came to this township, where the father died about 1869, and the mother a year later. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt have spent nearly forty-nine years together on this farm. They raised a fam- ily of twelve children, seven of whom are still living, and the youngest to die was seven years of age. The children's names are: Mary, deceased; Christina, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Elizabeth, Philip, Henry; Wilhelmina, deceased; Simon, deceased; Louisa, Margaret, George and Ida. Mr. Schmidt owns eighty acres of land, all of which he assisted in clearing himself. He and family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church. Politically
Mr. Schmidt is a republican. None are more highly respected than this aged couple.
ANTON SCHMITT, an aged and respected farmer of Center township, was born in Rhenish Bavaria, at Wachenheim-by-the- Hardt, February 14, 1814, the son of David and Justina (Haller) Schmitt. When he was fourteen, he was engaged in a vineyard, which business he thoroughly understood. Mr. Schmitt was married May 16, 1838, to Miss Barbara Kunz, born in Germany, December 4, 1817, daughter of Conrad and Susan Kunz. Her father died in his native country in 1828, and her mother died when Mrs. Schmitt was an infant. In 1840, Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, together with their oldest child, Mr. Schmitt's father and mother, one brother and one sister, emi- grated to the United States, reaching Evans- ville in June. Anton and wife settled in a little log cabin on the farm where he still lives, and his father and mother on another near his. Here his father, who was born in 1776, died, October 9, 1844, and his mother then went to Evansville and resided with her daughter until her death, May 3, 1873, at the age of ninety-four years. Mr. Schmitt was eminently successful, and increased his farm of forty acres to one of 167 acres, and the eight or ten acres of cleared land that he found, to more than 100. The log cabin has been replaced by a substantial frame struc- ture, which is comfortable and commo- dious. In addition to this he has erected quite a handsome two-story residence for his son, which together with fifty acres of land he gave to him. He and wife are the parents of five children: Margaret, Eliza- beth, David (deceased), Catherine, Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt, have passed a little more than fifty years together, forty-eight at their present home. They are members of the United Evangelical church. In poli- tics Mr. Schmitt is a republican. CHARLES
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SCHMITT, son of Anton, was educated in the schools of Center township, and studied Ger- man at Darmstadt. He has devoted his entire life to farm work, and owns a farm of fifty acres, nearly all of which is in cultivation, and is well improved. He was married August 31, 1874, to Miss Louisa Kuster, who was born in this county January 14, 1855, daughter of Christopher and Louisa (Swarz) Kuster, natives of Germany, who emigrated some thirty-five or forty years ago, and now resides in Scott township. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt are the parents of five child- ren: Otto (deceased), Clara, John, Victor, Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt are members of the Lutheran church. In poli- tics he is republican. He is an honest, indus- trious young farmer.
JOHN HENRY PETER SCHMIDT was born at Casseburg, Lauenburg, Prussia, July 29, 183I, the son of John Henry and Mary (Ludemann) Schmidt, both of whom died in their native country, the father about 18So and the mother about 1863. In the fall of 1856 he emigrated to the United States, and from New York went to Milwaukee, where he was variously employed, princi- pally in a printing office, for a year and a half. From Milwaukee he went to Tell City, Ind., where he remained until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in Company A, Sixtieth Indiana infantry, under the command of Col. Owen, and served three years. He participated in the battles of Munfordville, Arkansas Post, Chickasaw Bottoms, Vicksburg, Black River, and in skirmishes near Jackson, Miss., and at Carencro, where he was taken prisoner and held for six or seven weeks. After being exchanged, he was with Banks on his Red River expedition. He was dis- charged in the spring of 1865, and then re- turned to Tell City and engaged in the shingle business for one year. He then
came to Evansville, where he followed the wharf-boat business for nine or ten years, after which he came to Center township and bought the farm where he now resides. He was married April 1, 1875, to Mrs. Sophia (Andres) Bremer, the widow of Henry E. Bremer. She was born in Hol- stein, Germany, about 1834, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Bank) Andres. Her father died in Germany about 1852, and her mother in Tell City, Ind., about ten years later. Mr. Schmidt and wife have one child, Mary Christina Francisca, born Jan- uary 16, 1876. They are members of the Presbyterian church. In politics Mr. Schmidt is a republican. He was a gallant soldier, and is now an honest, industrious and successful farmer.
REV. ULRICH SCHROETER, an old and highly respected resident of Center town- ship, was born near Berne, Switzerland, August, 1826, the son of John and Eliza- beth Schroeter. His maternal grandfather was John Swahlen, who immigrated at the age of eighty years, and lived over nine years after reaching this country. Ulrich Schroeter acquired a good academic educa- tion, and some knowledge of the French language. In March, 1847, he, with his parents, brother Christian, sisters Anna and Elizabeth, and his grandfather, emigrated to the United States, and reached Evansville, in July, 1847. The family settled on a farm in German township, nearly all of which was in the woods. The father died about five years later, but the mother lived about twenty years. Ulrich made his home prin- cipally with his uncle, Christian Swahlen, in Center township, and was variously em- ployed. At about the age of twenty-six, he made a profession of religion, uniting with the German Methodist church. He was licensed to preach, and was a local preacher for some time. He became an itinerant
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minister, his first circuit including Logans- port, Wabash, Peru, and other places. In this work he remained about one year, when his health failed. A year later he again en- tered the itineracy, visiting Santa Claus, . New Boston, Santa Fe, Grandview, and other places in Spencer county. There he was married May II, 1858, to Miss Mary Fryhofer, who was born in Jackson county, Ind., May 29, 1840. She is the daughter of Jacob Fryhofer, born March II, 1806, and his wife Susanna born December 18, 1805, both natives of Canton Cirach, Switzerland. They came to the United States about 1835, and settled first in Jackson county, then in Spencer county, where Mrs. Fryhofer died February 12, 1863. Mr. Fryhofer now re- sides in Riley county, Kansas. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Schroeter gave up his circuit and returned to Vanderburgh county, and purchased the farm in Center town- ship, on which he now resides. He has cleared most of it, and erected a substantial house and two large barns. During the time he has been engaged in farming he has been a local minister and a leading mem- ber of the German Methodist church. He has been in demand to preach funeral ser- mons, far and near, and he was never too busy to respond to all the demands of this kind. At present there is an elegant brick church erected near his farm, the successful completion of which was due, in great part, to the efforts of Mr. Schroeter. He and his wife are the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom are living. Their names are: Lydia E., John W., Hannah S. (deceased), Emma L. (deceased), Louis F. (deceased), Emma Clara (deceased), Wilhelm Jacob, Henry Edward, Albert Walter, Jesse F., Samuel T., Irwin Benjamin and Arthur Clemens.
CHARLES F. W. SCHWARTZ was born in Prussia, December 26, 1839, the son of Ernst
Henry and Louisa (Redemeir) Schwartz. At the age of seven he accompanied his pa- rents to the United States, arriving at Evansville in December, 1846. They oc- cupied a farm in Scott township about eight years, and then removed to German town- ship, where Mrs. Schwartz died about the year 1854. Mr. Schwartz survived her until September, 1874. October 20, 1862, Charles enlisted as a private in Company K, Twenty-fourth Indiana volunteer infan- try, and served until October 19, 1865, when he was mustered out at Galveston, Tex. Some of the principal battles in which he participated were Port Gibson, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Blakely, Ala. After coming home he worked at the carpenter's trade and then resumed farming. He was married July 22, 1869, to Miss Caroline Schemet, who was born at Wittenberg, Germany, May 3, 1851, the daughter of Louis and Caroline Schemet, who now reside in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz have had the follow- ing children: Caroline C. (deceased), Wilhelmina R. and Mary B., (deceased) ; Louisa R., Louis F., William H., Anna Catherine, Ella Augusta, Christian Gottlieb, and Edward Arthur. Mr. Schwartz and family are members of the German Metho- dist church.
ERNST HENRY SCHWARTZ was born in Scott township, January 2, 1850, the son of E. H. and Louisa Schwartz, above men- tioned. He was married May 5, 1885, to Miss Kate Krieger, who was born in this county May 16, 1868, daughter of William and Lizzie (Stichert) Krieger, natives of Germany; he died in this county December 23, 1886, and she December, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz are the parents of two children : Emma M., born February 15, 1886, and Wesley W., born August 28, 1887. In religion, they are German Methodists.
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FREDERICK STEINMETZ, an old and promi- nent farmer of this township, was born in Wachenheim-by-the-Hardt, Germany, June II, ISII, the son of Bernhard and Eliza- beth (Koehler) Steinmetz, who died in that country, his father in 1829, and his mother in 1838. Frederick attended school until he was fourteen years of age, becom- ing an exceptionally good penman, and afterward was engaged in his father's vine- yard until he was about twenty-seven years old. March 16, 1837, he married Miss Eliza- beth Schmidt, who was born in Germany, April 11, 1811, daughter of David and Justina ( Haller) Schmidt. Her parents afterward came to the United States and settled in Center township. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmetz emigrated to the United States, leaving home April 24, 1837. They reached Evans- ville June 19, and on October 27, 1837, pur- chased a farm of eighty acres in Center township. He worked there about eleven years and then bought his farm of 160 acres, which was then entirely wooded. Now there are about 100 acres cleared, and all the work of opening this farm has been done by him and his sons. They are the parents of seven children: Henry, Anna Marie (deceased), Justina, Conrad (de- ceased), Elizabeth, August and Bernhard. Mr. Steinmetz and family are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Steinmetz was for several years secretary of the Home Mutual Fire Insurance company of Vander- burgh county.
enlisted as a private in Company H, Sixty-fifth Indiana volunteer infantry, and served two years, ten months and five days. He participated in the battles of Blounts- ville, Tenn., where he was painfully wounded in the wrist, Dallas, Resaca and other engagements of the Atlanta campaign. Near Decatur he was shot through the right side, breaking two of his ribs and producing a very dangerous wound. This was so serious and so long in healing that he was unable to return to his regiment. When he was mustered out May 25, 1865, the wound had not yet healed and it still disables him. He was married October 15, 1866, to Miss Hannah M. Heubner, who was born in this county, March 18, 1847, daughter of Peter and Harriet Heubner. Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are members of the German Methodist church, and he belongs to Farragut post, G. A. R. They are the parents of nine children: Anna Eliza (de- ceased), William H., Edward R. (deceased), Harriet F., Walter W., Elizabeth M., Jesse Martin, Sarah Esther and Ada Belle (de- ceased).
KARL VOLKMANN was born in Germany, September 15, 1844. He is the son of Andrew and Caroline Volkmann. When Karl was about nineteen years old he emi- grated to the United States, and reached this county in May, 1864. He was vari- ously occupied for a time, and then pur- chased sixty acres of the 120 acres which he now owns. Since that time he has been engaged in farming, and has been very suc- cessful. He was married about 1866 to Miss Justina Meyer, a native of Germany, daughter of Christian and Charlotte Meyer. They are parents of eight living children: Ernest, Charles, Frederick, Mary, Alvina, Gusta, Otto, Louisa, and two deceased, Caroline and August. Mr. Volkmann and
JOHN ULRICH was born in Switzerland, July 29, 1842, the son of Joseph and Anna (Schroeter) Ulrich. Mr. Ulrich's pa- rents immigrated and landed at New York, July 12, 1847, and came at once to Evansville, and settled in this town- ship. In the spring of 1862, Ulrich took a trip up the Tennessee river on a govern- ment boat, and on the 20th of July, 1862, |family are members of the Lutheran church.
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