History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc., Part 87

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 714

USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc. > Part 87

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It was a natural and fitting thing in the material development of this country, that its lands should fall into the possession of a people who would bring out all its stored-up riches and give them to mankind for enjoy- ment and advancement, and yet the mind lingers with regret upon the fast-fading

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EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Towns .- There are no towns of commer- cial or industrial importance in this town- ship. The only considerable town is St. Joseph, situated in sections 21 and 28, town- ship 5 south, of range II west. Here Nich- olas Long settled in early days, and by pru- dence and economy became quite wealthy. In the course of time he built a store-house, and opened a general store, about which clustered the few houses which make up a country village- a postoffice, a smithy, a school building and a church. For some time the principal merchant at the place has been Joseph Hartlein. Upon his death in 1887, his sons succeeded to the business, and still conduct it.

Kasson, situated in sections 9 and IO, township 6 south, of range II west, contains a postoffice and blacksmith shop, but is with- out prospects of becoming important. Very near Kasson, on the southeast corner of sec- tion 9, township 6 south, range II west, as early as March 20, 1838, J. W. Lilliston laid out a town and named it Germantown, but it never attained importance.

Vienna was laid out in section 31, town- ship 5, range II, January 11, 1838, by John A. Morgan. It was quite pretentious, hav- ing 177 lots, but they have long since gone back to cornfield and meadow.

Churches .- In early times there were no church buildings in this township except one in the Henson neighborhood. This was a Liberty church, free to all denominations, and was erected more than half a century ago. It was the scene of many good meet- ings. Here Benoni Stinson, Jerry Cash and the Methodist circuit riders often preached. For a time religious sentiment was very strong, and meetings were frequently held at the houses of the Fauquhars, Hensons, Eichles and others. The old Liberty church was not kept in repair and has long since passed away. There is now no church active labor. The congregation soon be-

in the township where sermons are regularly preached in the English tongue.

German Lutheran .- After the emigration of the Germans to this township Lutheran churches were soon established. The first of these was near the old homestead of the Fauquhars, now on the Cynthiana road, in the northeast part of the township. It was founded about the year 1838, and soon thereafter a log church was erected. This was afterward replaced by a spacious and comfortable edifice. The membership now numbers about ninety, and the church is in a very prosperous condition. About the same time St. John's church in the north- west part of the township, near the Posey county line, was organized. Its present membership is seventy-five; its church edi- fice is a handsome building, erected when

the congregation had outgrown the little log cabin first raised. About 1855 the Presby- terians, chiefly through the instrumentality of George Naab, a wealthy farmer, organ- ized a class and built a church. Its mem- bership now numbers 125. All of these churches are supplied with comfortable parsonages, and are prospering both tempo- rally and spiritually.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church. - The first church, a two-story log house, was built in the summer of 1841. The upper story was used for divine service, and the lower story for a school and pastoral residence. The congregation then numbered fifteen families. The Redemptorist, Father Czackart, had celebrated mass in the house of the widow Weiss, in 1836, and made a second visit in the following year. Rev. Roman Weinzop- fel attended up to May, 1842, and from Octo- ber of that year to the fall of 1845, Rev. Con- rad Schniederjans was in charge. In April, 1846, Father Weinzopfel returned and ac- complished much good by many years of

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came too large for the old church. On May 28, 1850, Bishop de St. Palais laid the corner stone for a new edifice, and on April 13, 1851, divine service was held in it for the first time. It was built of brick, 40x86 feet, ornamented with a handsome steeple, and cost exclusive of much labor and mater- ial donated, $2,200. It was dedicated April 27, 1857, since which time regular services have been held and the church has abundantly prospered.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ANDREW J. AUGERMEIER, trustee of German township, was born February 4, 1850, in that township. His parents were Henry and Rosina (Eder) Augermeier, both of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. The father was born in 1810, and came to America in 1826, located at Lancaster, Penn., where he was married in 1846, and in 1849 removed to Perry township, Ind. In the fall of the same year he moved to German township, where he died October 20, 1857. The mother was born in ISIS, and lives at present with her son. They had five children, all sons. Mr. Auger- meier taught in the schools of the county, and continued in this calling for twelve years. In 1879 he was married to Miss Mary L. Grossman, of Perry township. To this marriage were born four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom survive. In 1886 he was the candidate of the democratic party for township trustee, and was elected without opposition, and re- elected in 1888 in the same manner. This was a notable testimonial to the esteem in which he is held. He is a member of the St. Joseph congregation, Roman Catholic church.

J. V. FARES, a farmer and business man of German township, was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 10, 1824, the son of Michael

and Mary Fares. The parents came to this country in 1835, settling in Auglaize county, Ohio, where they ended their days. When they emigrated, Mr. Fares was only eleven years old, but he had learned to read and write the mother tongue, and after com- ing here learned to write and read in English. Until he was seventeen he worked upon the farm, and after that he learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed from 1840 to 1854. He is now living on the farm which he purchased in 1853. In October, 1859, he was married to Veronek Mann, and they have had twelve children: John, Catherine, Caroline, Frederick, Sabina, Christina, Gustavus, Margaret, Henry, Veronek, Edward, and Louisa. Mr. Fares was for many years a member of the I. O. O. F. He was raised a Catholic. In poli- tics he is a republican. Since IS61 he has served the community efficiently as post- master at Kasson.

CHARLES GANTNER, a man of note in Ger- man township, was born in Germany, De- cember 16, 1834. He is the son of Clemens and Regina (Fisher) Gantner. His parents left their home in Germany, March 20, 1840, came via New York, spent a few days in Ohio, then came on to Evansville, and moved into their new home in German town- ship August 20, 1840. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Gantner, and four children: Mary, who was a daughter of Mr. Gantner, by a previous marriage, Abuns, Richard and Charles, our subject. When they set- tled here the farm was mostly in the woods, there being only about four acres of cleared land on the place. Charles remained on the farm with his father until he was about twenty years of age, when his father died, November 9, 1852. The farm was then rented for two years, and he and his mother went to Evansville. His mother became dissatisfied with the city, so,

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at the end of two years, he and his mother returned to the farm. His mother remained a widow for eleven years, and then married Lawrence Spitzer. They reside in this township, and she is still hale and hearty, and does a great deal of work. Charles was married November 30, 1858, to Miss Phœbe Schmidt, who was born in Center township, this county, October 16, 1838, the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Mauer) Schmidt, both of whom were born in Ger- many, and came to this county about 1834 or 1835. Her father died about 1871 or 1872, and her mother is still living, making her home with her son Andrew, in this town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Gantner went to house- keeping at their present home. They are the parents of thirteen children, all of whom are living, viz .: Clemens, born November 17, 1859; Elizabeth, born February 21, 1861; Regina, born October 4, 1862; Caroline, born February 25, 1864; Charles A., born December 4, 1865; Josephine, born October 8, 1867; Mary, born April 1, 1869; Richard, born December 24, 1870; William E., born December 10, 1872; Joseph A., born April 9, 1875; Phœbe, born February 1, 1878; Matthew A., born October 5, 1880, and Gressens, born December 7, 1882. Mr. Gantner is a member of Morning Star lodge, No 7, I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of Colfax lodge, No. 34, Daughters of Rebekah. Politically Mr. Gantner is a democrat. He was elected township assessor in October, 1870, served two years and was elected township trustee the same month that his term as assessor expired, and was re-elected trustee in 1874, without opposi- tion. In April, 1876, he had two opponents, both of whom were democrats, and he was again elected by a good majority. He did all of his own business while in office, and his reports were models of neatness and ac- curacy. After his term as trustee expired,

he was elected justice of the peace, which office he filled with credit for four years.

DANIEL WEBSTER GOLDSMITH is the son of Daniel F. and Melissa Goldsmith. He was born in Center township, this county, June 10, 1832. He spent his early life on his father's farm in Center township, where he assisted in the toilsome work largely un- known to the present generation. He con- tinued to work on the farm until several years after his father's death. He removed to his present home in German township in May, 1866, where he owns IIO acres of good land. He was married March 3, 1853, to Miss Martha J. Fuquay, who was born in Warrick county, Ind., September 15, 1833, and is the daughter of Stephen and Eliza- beth (Peck) Fuquay. They are the par- ents of the following children: William H., Lizzie, Allen, Fannie, Morton, Mamie, Chauncey W., and Foster B., all living, ex- cept William H., Lizzie, Foster B. and Mamie. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith and a part of their family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and are among the county's most highly respected citizens.

HENRY GUMBERTS, SR., first became a resident of Evansville in 1842, when he arrived with his parents, Marx and Rosa Gumberts, from the Rhine country of Ger- many, where he was born August 8, 1822. They passed the remainder of their lives in the city, and he has had his home in Evans- ville with the exception of two years, 1844 to 1846, at Helena, Ark. He engaged in retailing dry goods in 1846, during the war was sutler for the Eleventh Kentucky regi- ment, and in 1869 entered the wholesale liquor trade, at the same time attending to real estate auctioneering. For twenty years he has been doing a large and profitable wholesale business at 323 Main street. In 1872 he was elected to the city council, and was twice re-elected. He was married in

Christian Wunderlich

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GERMAN TOWNSHIP.

1847 to Frederica Seusmeier, who was born in Prussia in 1827, and came to this country in 1844. They have four children : Jacob M., Clara, Fannie and Fred.

SIMON HARTIG was born in Lippe-Det- mold, Germany, November 20, 1835, the son of Frederick W. and Catharine (Teolle) Hartig. Frederick was born about 1807, and his wife about 1816. They immigrated in 1853 or 1854, and settled in this township. Simon, when thirteen years of age, came to the United States, reaching New Orleans, January 1, 1848. He became engaged in farm work, in this county, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which business he fol- lowed thirteen years. He was married about January 1, 1863, to Miss Minnie Watermann, born in Germany, February 2, 1846, the daughter of Conrad and Christina Watermann. Mr. and Mrs. Hartig are the parents of ten children: William, Christina, Theodore, Charles, Henrietta, Simon, Henry, Minnie, John and Frederick. Mr. Hartig owns 166 acres of good land. He and family are members of the Evangelical church. He was elected township trustee in April, 1878, and re-elected in April, 1880, by a largely increased majority. In April, 1882, he was elected justice of the peace, and served four years.

CHARLES HENZE, an old resident and prominent farmer of German township, was born in Germany, December 22, 1838. He is the son of Henry and Dora (Kleiman) Henze. His parents were both natives of Germany, where his father was born, No- vember 22, 1798, and his mother in August, 1801. At thirteen years of age, he ac- companied his parents, together with four brothers, William, Henry, August and Christian, and three sisters, Henrietta, Lou- isa and Wilhelmina, to the United States, landing at New Orleans in the spring of 1851. From there they came at once to

this county, reaching Evansville June 15 of the same year. In a few days they bought the farm, a part of which our subject now owns. Here the father died in the spring of 1875, his mother having preceded him ten years, her death occurring in 1865. Our subject went to school and worked on his father's farm until 1864, when he en- listed as a private in Company E, Twenty- sixth Indiana volunteer infantry, and served until August 28, 1865, when he was mus- tered out at St. Louis, Mo. During his term of service he was in the battle of Spanish Fort, Ala. He was married in 1859 to Catherine Groeninger, who was born in this township January 1, 1843, the daughter of Frederick and Margaret Groeninger, both natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country in June, 1832, and settled first at Pittsburgh, in this township, about 1840. Here her father died Septem- ber 24, 1886, her mother having died many years previous, in 1857. They have six children: Anna, born January 5, 1860; Henry, born March 30, 1861; Wilhelmina, born March 18, 1874; Edward, born Feb- ruary 3, 1878; Matilda, born December 24, 1879, and Jacob, born February 1, 1884. Mr. Henze and family are members of the Evangelical church. Politically Mr. Henze is a republican. He was elected township assessor by a good majority in April, 1886.

ANDREW SCHMIDT was born in German township, March 6, 1846, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Mauer) Schmidt, who immi- grated to the United States, and coming to Indiana, lived successively in Vincennes, Pigeon township and Center township, then settling on the farm where he died April 24, 1872, and where Andrew now lives, his mother making her home with him. Andrew was married October 6, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Boseker, born in this town- ship, September 29, 1850, the daughter

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EARLY SETTLEMENT.

of Charles and Elizabeth Boseker, both natives of Germany. They are the parents of ten children: Anna, Katie, Elizabeth, William, Philip, Jacob, Andrew, George, Louisa and Henry. Mr. Schmidt and fam- ily are members of the Evangelical church. He ranks among the most enterprising and successful farmers of his part of the county.

FREDERICK WERKMANN, ex-trustee of German township, was born in Hesse Darm- stadt, Germany, July 8, 1843, the son of Peter and Margaret (Naab) Werkmann, both natives of Germany. He accompanied his parents to the United States, landing at New Orleans in December, 1854, and reach- ing Evansville, January 6, 1855. His father died in Evansville the next morning, his sis- ter the same day and his mother on the 9th of the same month, leaving Frederick and one brother the only survivors of the entire family. Mr. Werkmann came at once to German township and went to work with his uncle, George Naab, on the same farm which he subsequently bought. He was married March 15, 1868, to Miss Catherine Puth, who was born in Germany, September 5, 1848, the daughter of William and Anna Maria Puth, natives of Germany, who emi- grated to the United States in December, 1854, and settled in Posey county. Her mother died there more than twenty years ago, but her father is still living and makes his home with his son in Perry township. Mr. Werkmann and wife are members of the Evangelical church. He was elected township trustee in April, IS82, and his faithful service was rewarded by a re- election in 1884, without opposition. During his term of office he built two sub- stantial brick school-houses. In April, 1888, he was elected justice of the peace.

was organized March 9, 1818, and com- prised about half of the county. By the contraction of its limits through the forma- tion of other civil townships, it has been made to comprise but twenty-eight sections of land, in the northwest corner of the county, bounded on the west and north by Posey and Gibson counties, on the east by Scott, and on the south by German town- ship. Its surface is rolling -more distinctly so in the south part, which in early days was densely timbered, though the forests have long since been almost entirely re- moved. The soil of the township is pro- ductive, and this combined with the intelli- gence and thrift of its farmers, makes its people a well-to-do class. The principal stream is Big creek, flowing through the township from southeast to southwest. Barr's creek also traverses the township in its western part, but the stream is of no import- ance and was never useful for mill purposes, except on its broader parts beyond the township line.

Early Settlers .- While it is impossible to name the year in which the white man and his red brother first stood face to face on the soil of Armstrong township, it may be recorded with a fair degree of accuracy that among the earliest settlements in the territory now embraced in the confines of Vanderburgh county, were those in this township. Vincennes was the seat of government and the tide of immigration first set in motion by the consummation of a treaty with the Indians, moved southward from that ancient post and village, and landed a few squatters in the northern part of the county about the same time that its first breakers reached the north bank of the Ohio river, in the townships of Union, Pigeon and Knight. From the best testi- mony obtainable, though there are no writ-

Armstrong Township was one of the first formed in the county of Vanderburgh. It ten memoranda of the facts, the priority of

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settlement probably rests with the territory along the river border. The first settle- ments in Armstrong township were in the northern part, but just when the first cabin was built or the first clearing made, can not now be determined. The first settlers were representatives of the class already fre- quently mentioned as squatters.

Thomas Saulsbury and Maj. Selser were typical representatives of this class. They were both well-known in early days, and even by the surviving generation are not entirely forgotten. Thomas Saulsbury was a "pretty wild chap"; he came in as a hunter, made no pretensions as a farmer, and remained rough and uncouth as long as he was in this locality. He accumulated no property, being desirous of satisfying only his daily wants, without thought of the mor- row or the days which might come when he could neither hunt or work. He built a cabin, however, and cleared a few acres of land. When the game began to get scarce he grew restless and pushed on to other and better hunting grounds. Disposing of his improvements to 'Squire McDonald for a small amount, and gathering his family, his dogs, and the few necessary household goods together, he left the scenes of his oft- recounted exploits and was never heard of more. Maj. Selzer was of the same type. Joseph Caters, John Livingston, and John R. Kitchens were also known as followers of the game.

It is impossible to name the pioneers in the priority of their coming. Among the earliest were James Martin and his two sons, Thomas and Charles, who came from South Carolina in a very early day, and afterward became well-known in all parts of the county. The elder Martin was a Regular Baptist preacher of the early backwoods style, uneducated; and yet with homely. illustrations and powerful speech, backed by

an upright life which all men admired, he was a power for good among the pioneers. Charles Martin was a progressive man, and a good farmer for those days. He was one of the first to build a horse-power mill in the township, which served in a great degree to ameliorate the hardships of life in the woods. On the Sth of November, 1819, he was licensed to keep a tavern, the first in Armstrong township. For many years his hospitable house was a favorite place with all who went that way. The rates fixed by the county commissioners as permissible to be charged by him, were as follows: Each diet, 3712 cents; keeping horse, 50 cents; lodging, 121/2 cents; one-half pint of rum, brandy or wine, 50 cents; one-half pint of gin, peach, or apple brandy or bounce, 25 cents; one-half pint of whiskey, 1212 cents.

John Armstrong, sr., for whom the town- ship was named, was another of the early settlers. He had been a sailor, and came with some ready money, unlike most of the early settlers, and entered considerable land. It seemed strange that one, so much of whose life had been spent on the ocean, should at last settle in the wilds of the inter- ior where he could not even hear the dash- ing of the waves upon the coast. He was a veritable " salt," full of stories, and never happier than when surrounded by attentive listeners. The monotonous life of the fore- castle had prepared him for the monotony of pioneer life in the woods. Here he found a people glad to hear his constant talk about the sea. They had not heard his stories a thousand times, as had his shipmates no doubt. In the lonely cabins of the pioneers with the great backlog filling every recess with its illuminating glory he was wont to become an attractive figure to all, from the boy whose life was just budding into hope, to the old man whose source of greatest joy was retrospection. Mr. Armstrong was in-

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dustrious and pushing, though not particu- larly prominent. He was respected by all and died when about ninety years of age, in the township bearing his name.

Immediately following the occupation of Armstrong township by civilized men few were more prominent than David Brumfield. Far above the average in intelligence, he was recommended to the governor for ap- pointment as justice of the peace, by the first court held in Warrick county in 1813, and afterward when Vanderburgh county was organized, he was chosen by the elec- tors as one of the first county commission- ers. He maintained an honorable promi- nence throughout his entire career. The early elections were held at the house of Zadok McNew, which stood in section 32, township 4 south, range II west, was a small double log house, one and one-half stories high, and remained well preserved for many years. Zadok McNew was an early settler, not particularly able or prominent, but at one time a justice of the peace. He became a well-known citizen and raised a respected and honorable family. One of his daughters was married in early times to James Patton, who secured a tolerably fair education and taught school in various parts of the county. Patrick Calvert was dis- tinguished among the old-time folks as a shrewd trader. He came into the township in 1816 and accumulated considerable prop- erty by trading in live-stock. He was well- known in all the county as the leading stock dealer in that section, and his judgment was considered remarkably good. He and his descendants have built for their family name an honorable place in the history of the township.

Judge John McCrary was selected by the voters at the first election held in the county, to occupy a place on the bench as associate judge. He was a man of sterling worth,

and long occupied a prominent place in the annals of Armstrong township. Among the earliest settlers was Moses Pruitt, who came to the township prior to IS10. Simp- son Ritchey was also well-known in this township. At an early date he built a horse- mill. This, or the one built by Charles Martin, was the first in the township. Set- tlers at first used the mortar for pulverizing corn, and afterward went to David Negley's mill, in Center township, or to that of Joseph Wasson, in Gibson county. John Ferrell, Daniel and Joshua Rose, and many others whose names it is not possible to ascertain, were among the pioneers. Some of those who were not among the first, but who acted a conspicuous part in the early history of the county, were Gen. Elisha Harrison, also an early resident of Evans- ville, a man of great strength of character and personal worth, who occupied many positions of trust and honor; 'Squire Samuel McDonald, a Virginian, and a very promi- ment man, who for a quarter of a century held the office of justice of the peace; George W. Finch, a justice of the peace, and for four years a state senator; William Stewart, whose influence was ever for good, and many others. The lands in Armstrong township were taken gradually by the sons of the pioneers who became of age, and by others who, leaving their homes in the older states, after weeks and months of endurance and trial found a spot near some spring or settlement of good neighbors which their fancies selected as a good place to locate. Very few foreigners found their way here until 1835. ' Over in the townships east of Armstrong, many were settling from beyond the ocean, but the ties of nationality had great effect on those early comers. Each sought out those from his native state or clime as any stranger might hunt out a brother in going to a new country. The public lands

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History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, etc., Part 87

Author: Publication date: 1889 Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller Number of Pages: 714

Author:
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: [Madison, Wis.] : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 714