USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume II > Part 20
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On the 15th of February, 1883, Mr. Heimann was united in marriage in Philadelphia to Miss Betty Joseph, and unto them have been born two children, Ella Louise, at home; and Beulah, who is attending the public schools. Mr. Heimann is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, gives his political support to the republican party and is of the Jewish faith. His life has always been a busy one, continuously occupied with the duties of the different positions which he has filled, and he seems now to have found an enterprise for which he is well qualified and in which he is meeting with substantial advancement.
GEORGE A. HOEFLING.
Among the well known farmers of Armstrong township, Vanderburg county, Indiana, is George A. Hoefling. He was born in the township where he now lives, October 13, 1860, and is the eldest son of George and Christina (Bohme) Hoefling, both of whom were natives of Bavaria, Germany, the former born December 26, 1829, and the latter in 1828. They came with their respective parents to America and located in Arm- strong township, this county, about one mile south of Armstrong. Here the paternal grandfather of our subject located on one hundred acres of timber land and is remembered as one of the pioneers of the region. He cleared the land after much labor and our subject in his memory goes back to the time when his grandfather made use of wood shavings and lard as a means of illumination at night, this being before the days of the ker- osene lamp. The grandfather passed to his reward at ninety years of age, in 1892, his wife having died eight years previously, at the advanced age of seventy-two years. Our subject's father, George Hoefling, removed from the farm to Evansville after the death of his wife and is now living retired, having by industry and thrift acquired a competence. He was a second time married and the lady of his choice was Miss Barbara Trunk, of German township. Two daughters and one son were born of this union.
George A. Hoefling received his early education in the parochial school at St. Joseph, Vanderburg county. At fifteen years of age he began to devote his attention to the farm, continuing under his father for seven years, when he started for himself by purchasing seventy-eight acres of partially improved land in the neighborhood. Later he bought fifty-five acres of improved land, making a total of one hundred and thirty-three acres, all of which is located on section 29, Armstrong township, and which he has brought under a state of cultivation that makes it highly valuable. As a general farmer and live-stock raiser Mr. Hoefling is one of the most successful men in this region. He also deals extensively in horses, mules, hogs and cattle, which he fattens for the market and in the handling of which he has displayed a well trained judgment.
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On August 27, 1882, Mr. Hoefling was married to Miss Katherine Helf- rich, a daughter of Peter and Appelone (Kissel) Helfrich, who are well known farmers of German township and natives of Germany, who came to this county in the early days. Her father died after becoming well es- tablished as a farmer in 1873 and the mother thirteen years later. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoefling; George J., who is married and lives on his father's farm; Mary I., now Mrs. M. Lutterbach ; Henry, who died at the age of three years; Margaret; Frank R .; Cecelia ; Florence L .; Aurelia; 'Alfred J .; and Thelma O.
Mr. Hoefling early earned the money which made it possible for him to start in life, thus exhibiting a sturdy independence of character that is one of the most important elements in a successful career. By a continu- ance of the same spirit of self-reliance he has gained a permanent position as a leader in a farming community. He is an adherent of the principles of Thomas Jefferson as expressed from year to year in the platforms of the democratic party. In religious belief he is a Catholic and the sincerity of his faith is exhibited in an upright life and a helpfulness for others which is a beautiful characteristic inherited from worthy ancestors of the fatherland.
ERNST A. SCHOR.
Among the business men of Evansville who were born and reared here and have attained positions of responsibility in a community where they have all their lives been well known, may be named Ernst A. Schor, secre- tary of the Karges Furniture Company. He was born January 13, 1871, and is a son of R. F. and Mary E. Schor. His father whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this work, was a native of Germany and came to Evans- ville before the Civil war, at the age of twelve years. As general book- keeper he was connected with the First National Bank of Evansville for thirty years. He departed this life in 1889. He was a conscientious and conservative man, of unimpeachable honesty, and possessed many of the best characteristics that go to make up the ideal citizen.
Ernst A. Schor was educated in the public schools until sixteen years of age, when he entered the printing house of W. H. Keller, where he con- tinued only six months, as a more favorable outlook appeared in the bank- ing field. The First National Bank, with which his father was connected, needed a runner and this position he entered upon while in his seventeenth year. It was at the bottom of the ladder that he started but by application and faithful attention to the various duties he worked his way up until he became receiving teller. He resigned from the banking business in 1905, after having been connected with the bank for nineteen years, and he there gained an insight into finances and business methods which prepared
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him for any responsibility he might assume. Since leaving the bank he has been actively connected with the Karges Furniture Company, and since March 1, 1909, has been secretary and treasurer of the company and has charge of its office. The business has shown a gratifying increase and Mr. Schor is recognized among his associates as a capable and energetic busi- ness man, of good discernment and with ability in an emergency to grasp the helm and guide the ship into smooth waters.
In May, 1893, Mr. Schor was united in marriage in this city to Miss Anna Karges. Two children have been born of this union: Esther, now fourteen years of age; and Anna Mary, twelve years of age, both of whom are attending the public schools.
Mr. Schor is an adherent of the principles of the republican party and of the Presbyterian church. He is actively identified with social and fraternal organizations and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Accountant & Credit Men's Association. His record ever since he entered business life has been entirely clear and he possesses the friendship and confidence of a large circles of associates, who are among the best business men of Evansville. His influence is always in favor of law and the observance of those rules which experience has demonstrated are for the best interest of the state and of society.
WILLIAM A. BROWNING.
William A. Browning, head of the Browning Milling Company, one of the long established institutions of Evansville, first opened his eyes to the light of day at Inglefield, Indiana, April 30, 1860. He is a son of George B. and Margaret (Trimbell) Browning, both natives of Indiana. Richard Browning, the grandfather of our subject, came to Indiana at a very early day and settled at Inglefield, where he established a flour mill. The busi- ness of which he was the founder has ever since been carried on by the family and is recognized as the oldest business of the kind in the state of Indiana. He was a pioneer of this locality and when he began as a miller he made use of ox power and tradition tells us that the capacity of the original mill was one and one-half bushels of wheat per day. This seems almost incredible, but the pioneer miller soon took advantage of such im- provements as came along and in 1838 he installed machinery for steam power and in 1858 he erected a fine new mill. He gained a reputation that extended far and wide as one of the best millers in the country and in 1840 was awarded the grand prize at New Orleans for exhibiting flour which was declared to be the best in the United States. Grandfather Browning inducted his son into the mysteries of the business and he in turn taught his sons how to make good flour and how to place it upon the market
WILLIAM A. BROWNING
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so as to increase the reputation of the house. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George B. Browning: Nellie, the wife of Walker A. Scott, of Evansville; William A., the subject of this sketch; John, who married Miss Mattie Litchfield and is living at Inglefield; Morris, a resident of Inglefield; and Joseph, who married the daughter of an old Kentucky family.
William A. Browning was educated in the public schools of Inglefield and also took a business course in the Commercial College at Evansville. At the age of eighteen he entered in the mill with his father, showing such aptitude that at twenty-one he was admitted to partnership in the firm. The business continued to grow from year to year and, larger facilities being necessary, the mill was moved to Evansville in 1894 and located at the corner of Iowa and Lafayette streets. Five years later a new and thor- oughly modern structute was completed at No. 1I Kentucky avenue, and here operations are now being carried forward upon a more extensive scale than ever before.
Mr. Browning has been three times married. His first wife was Miss Mary Moffett, of Mccutcheonville, Indiana, who died in 1892, and in 1893 Mr. Browning was married to Miss Hattie Johan, who was also called away. His present wife, to whom he was united in 1906, was Miss Ruth Saunders, a daughter of Isaac Saunders, a carpenter of this city.
Representing the third generation of the family at Evansville, Mr. Browning occupies a unique position and has acquitted himself as becomes a good citizen and a true friend of his fellows. He is a veteran of the Spanish-American war, in which he served with high credit for eight months. In his business career he has aimed to maintain the high stand- ard that was inaugurated by his worthy grandfather and handed down by his father. As a public-spirited citizen of a growing community, he has recognized his duty to assist in all movements that have for their object the promotion of the welfare of this region and no citizen of Evansville de- serves more prominent mention in this work than William A. Browning.
WILLIAM H. DEDRICK.
Working his way upward from a humble position William H. Dedrick has always improved his opportunities and is now serving his county in the responsible position of superintendent of the County Infirmary. In- diana numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Harrison county, November 4, 1856. His father, John A. Dedrick, was born in Germany and, coming to America in early life, settled in Indiana, where he met and married Miss Elizabeth Smyth, who was born in this state. He was a millwright by trade, but in early manhood purchased a
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farm in Floyd county, Indiana, and devoted about ten years to the develop- ment and cultivation of that property. He then resumed work at his trade, which he followed for about twenty years, when he, retired from active business life and removed to Henderson county, Kentucky, where he resided until his death in December, 1881. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who passed away in October, 1870.
William H. Dedrick was a youth of fourteen years at the time of his mother's demise. From that time forward he has been dependent upon his own resources and his energy and determination have constituted the foundation upon which he has builded his success. He was first employed in a rolling mill, in which he learned the business. He also learned the millwright's trade and remained in the mill for six years. On the ex- piration of that period he removed to Evansville and was employed for about six months in a rolling mill, when it was destroyed by a severe wind storm. At that time he used his savings to pay his tuition in a business college at Louisville, Kentucky, for he had realized the need of education as a preparation for advancement in the business world. He was grad- uated in 1873 and afterward began work with his father as a carpenter and millwright, devoting five years to those lines of business. There have been few idle moments in his life, for he has always labored diligently and persistently, realizing that earnest, honest work is the basis of success.
On the 12th of December, 1878, Mr. Dedrick was married to Miss Martha Carleton, a daughter of Greene B. and Lucinda Carleton, who were natives of Indiana. At the time of their marriage Mr. Dedrick rented a farm in Vanderburg county and continued its cultivation for two years, at the end of which time he removed to Spencer county, Indiana, and invested in a tract of land. Four years were devoted to its further cultivation, after which he sold that property and returned to Evansville, where he began business as a contractor, continuing in that field of labor from 1892 until 1901. In the meantime he had been called to public office and had proven his trustworthiness by the capable and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. It was in 1896 that he was elected county as- sessor, which position he filled for four years. He was then appointed superintendent of the Vanderburg County Infirmary, which is situated on the Stringtown road, and for the past ten years he has remained in charge here, capably managing the interests of the infirmary from the business standpoint and also from the standpoint of the welfare of its in- mates.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick have been born six children : Elmer E., who died in February, 1883; Ervin, who died on the 29th of October, 1896; Elbert M., twenty-five years of age, who is now a member of the regular army, stationed at Fort Egbert, Alaska; Effie, who passed away in 1886; Alger H., twenty-two years of age, living at home; and William S., twelve years of age, who completes the family.
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Both Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick are members of the Methodist church, loyal to its teachings and liberal in its support. His broad humanitarianism has made him considerate of others and in addition to the good work which he is doing at the County Infirmary he is also connected with the Home of the Friendless. He belongs to the Elks Lodge, No. 116, of Evansville, while his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has al- ways lived in Indiana and much of his life in Vanderburg county or this portion of the state, and those who know him recognize in him those qualities which in every land and clime awaken admiration and merit emulation.
FRED W. MILLER.
Among the active young business men of Evansville, Fred W. Miller holds a responsible position and has proven himself to be the possessor of qualifications which his associates highly admire. He is a native son of In- diana and was born in Scott township, Vanderburg county, February 3, 1873. His father was Henry C. Miller and his mother Mary (Breck- winkel) Miller, both of them being natives of Germany and of that stanch character which seeks to improve its surroundings even at the expense of great labor and separation from early home and friends. The father of our subject located in Gibson county, this state, and he showed his devotion to his adopted country by enlisting in Company G, Ninety-first Indiana Regiment, when he was twenty years of age and faithfully serving through the entire war for the cause of the Union. At the close of the Rebellion he came to Scott township and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he cleared and improved and upon which he lived until his death, which oc- curred in November, 1889. His faithful companion was called from earthly cares in May, 1896.
Fred W. Miller was reared upon the farm and educated in the public schools, but after the death of his father he decided to devote his atten- tion to business affairs and he accepted a position as clerk under W. D. Miller, of Inglefield, Indiana. At the end of six years of faithful service he became identified with the mercantile establishment of Michael Bauer, of Darmstadt, Indiana, but at the close of twelve months came to Evans- ville and entered the employ of the Bement & Seitz Company, wholesale grocers of this city. Here he continued for seven years, at the end of which time he formed a partnership with D. H. Stork and began in the furniture business under the title of the Stork Furniture Company, of which Mr. Stork is president, J. W. Stork, vice president, and Mr. Miller traffic manager. The firm is one of the substantial enterprises of the city and its business gives promise of continued growth as time passes.
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On February 2, 1898, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Minnie F. Bauer, a daughter of Michael and Barbara Bauer, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Germany. Mr. Miller is actively identified with the Woodmen of the World and is clerk of the Hooppole Camp, No. 118, of Darmstadt. He usually gives his support to the candidates of the republican party and he and his wife are members of the German Evan- gelical church. Mr. Miller has been successful in his business career and is ably seconded by his intelligent and faithful life companion so there is little doubt that he will continue to prosper. He is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is held by associates and acquaintances, as he has at- tained his present position by his own exertions and not through influence of others. Such men become the leaders in every community.
FERDINAND FUNKE.
Ferdinand Funke is numbered among those who were at one time lead- ing factors in the business activity of Evansville, their labors constituting an important element in the progress and business development of the city. Moreover, the methods which Mr. Funke pursued won for him the con- fidence and high regard of a circle of friends that was limited only by the circle of his acquaintances. He was born in Rüthen, a town in Westphalia, Germany, on the 8th of February, 1828. His father, Christolf Funke, was born in Germany in the year 1790 and after attaining adult age mar- ried Caroline Glahne, who was born in the same country in 1795. He never left the fatherland but after his death his widow and her two sons, Ferdinand and John, came to America in 1848.
Ferdinand Funke was at that time a young man of about twenty years. His education had been acquired in the schools of his native country. From time to time reports reached him concerning America, its business conditions and its opportunities, and the mother believed, too, that her sons would have better chances for business advancement on this side the water. Accordingly they bade adieu to friends and native country and in the year 1848 reached the new world, making their way soon afterward to Evansville, which was then a small town of little commercial or in- dustrial importance.
Ferdinand Funke became identified with the business interests of this city as a gunsmith, opening a shop on Fulton avenue and First street. There he continued until 1859, enjoying a gradually increasing trade, which made his undertaking a profitable one. In the year mentioned he turned his attention to other pursuits, joining Henry Meyers in the establishment of a paper mill in Evansville, that has now had a continuous existence of more than fifty-one years and, conducted under the firm name of Ferdi- nand Funke Sons, is today one of the large and important productive in-
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FERDINAND FUNKE
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dustries of the city. Ferdinand Funke continued active in the conduct and control of that enterprise until 1893, when he retired, turning over the business to his sons. His remaining days, covering a period of two years, were spent in well earned rest, leaving him leisure for the enjoyment of such activities as were a matter of recreation and interest to him.
On the 23d of May, 1859, in Evansville, Mr. Funke was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Kuntz, also a native of Germany, born at Bibles-Hesse, on the 28th of October, 1835. She was a girl of six years when she accompanied her parents to the United States, and they journeyed westward by way of the Erie canal, settling in Evansville soon after landing in the new world. Mr. and Mrs. Funke became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters: Caroline, John M., Fer- dinand A., Anna M., Josephine and Joseph H. All are still living with the exception of Anna.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Funke joined the Home Guards for the protection of local interests against the invasion of Confederate forces. He was a director of St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery Association and throughout his entire life was a devout member of the Catholic church. He never held to narrow or contracted opinions, however, being recognized on the contrary as a man of broad views and progressive spirit. He took a deep interest in all that pertained to public progress and in many ways cooperated in movements that promoted the welfare of his adopted city. That he made a wise step in coming to America is indicated in the excel- lent results which followed his efforts, for through his persistent and in- telligently directed labors he worked his way upward from a humble finan- cial position to one of prominence and affluence.
PETER H. REDDINGER.
It has been said that fortunate is the man who finds himself in a pro- fession or a business for which he is naturally adapted, and doubly fortun- ate is he who enters a vocation at the beginning of his career which he can joyfully follow through life. Observation and experience show that most men go to their tasks because they are driven by the stern urge of necessity and not through love for the work.
But not so with the subject of this review. Born with the artistic talent, he was so fortunate as to have opportunity for its expression very early in his career and the results have far exceeded his early dreams. He is now at the head of a large wood carving establishment, where beautiful creations are produced daily and whose products as met with in homes of the land are evidences of culture and refinement.
Mr. Reddinger is a native of The Netherlands, Holland, where he was born September 20, 1872. He is a son of Harold and Grace Reddinger.
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His father was born in Germany and engaged as a merchant tailor, but feel- ing that America presented more favorable opportunities than could be expected in the old countries he emigrated in 1880 with his family to the United States, locating in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There he was identi- fied with the gents' furnishing business until his death, which occurred in 1898. A love for education is one of the dominating characteristics of the German people and this important element in success in life is not often lost sight of by the fathers and mothers after they arrive on the shores of the western hemisphere. Peter H. Reddinger was accorded the ad- vantages presented by the public and high schools of Grand Rapids and, making good use of the opportunity, was at sixteen ready to begin his battle with the world. He was apprenticed to William Burking, manufac- turer of furniture, and in this establishment he received a fair start on the road to ultimate financial independence. After two and a half years with Mr. Burking, he became connected with Nelson, Matter & Company, also manufacturers of furniture, and remained with this firm for a period of two years. By this time his ability as a wood carver attracted him to a wider field and for three years he acted as head of the carving department of the Mattoon Manufacturing Company of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. His next experience was as foreman of the Converse Manufacturing Company, at Newaygo, near Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time he was called to Shelbyville, Indiana, as foreman of the carving department of the Conry & Barley Table Company. This posi- tion incurred greater responsibilities than Mr. Reddinger had previously assumed, but at the close of a period of three years he resigned, believing the time had arrived for him to become an independent producer. He ac- cordingly removed to Cincinnati and opened up a carving factory, which he successfully conducted until 1901, when the demands of a growing busi- ness induced him to locate permanently in this city as the most favorable spot in the Ohio valley for his line of industry. Until October, 1910, the work was carried on in the building owned by the Bosse Furniture Com- pany, but in 1910 a two story brick building was erected, with a floor space of one hundred and thirty-eight by fifty feet, and provided with the most modern facilities as to engine, boilers, etc. A dry house stands twelve feet away from the main structure and no features have been overlooked in order to make the plant capable of meeting requirements for some years to come. The factory gives employment to fifty men and manufactures a general line of wood carvings. Through natural ability, discrimination and practical experience Mr. Reddinger has built up a business which is contributing in no small degree to the prosperity of Evansville and has established for himself a reputation as a capable and progressive business man.
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