USA > Indiana > Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood, Volume V > Part 31
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Peter J. Reehling, youngest of the fam- ily, was born on the old home farm in In- diana in 1853. He received his education
at Fort Wayne in J. Weber's private school from 1861 to 1872. On leaving school he went to work as clerk in the store of his brother-in-law, John Otto, at Auburn, In- diana. Mr. Otto was a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Reehling remained in Otto's boot and shoe store until 1875, when he opened a similar business of his own at Bluffton, Ohio, and remained there until 1882. He then sold out and returning to Indiana was clerk in a store at Rushville for two years, and then went on the road for a year selling shoes for the Carnahan- Hanna Company of Fort Wayne. His ter- ritory was Central and Southern Indiana.
Mr. Reehling's first connection with the American Express Company dates from October 10, 1887. Though he knew noth- ing of the business, he accepted the place of agent at Rushville and remained there two years. Superintendent Fargo then sent him to Alton, Illinois, as agent for the company. He remained at Alton eleven months, and returning to Rushville became express messenger with a run from North Vernon, Indiana, to Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was on the road a year and a half, and in 1892 was appointed agent at Alexandria, Indiana, which was his home for fifteen years. He then served as local agent at Richmond two and a half years, as traveling agent eleven months from Terre Haute, Indiana, to St. Louis, and from Danville to Cairo eleven months, was local agent at Lima, Ohio, at Wabash, Indiana, at Alexandria, and at Kokomo for two years, and again at Wabash for 21/2 years. In March, 1916, he accepted his present post as agent and manager of the company's business at Anderson. His fam- ily continued to reside at Alexandria, where he owns considerable real estate and also his property at Indianapolis.
In 1875 Mr. Reehling married Melissa Martin, daughter of I. W. and Mary (O'Conner) Martin of Columbus Grove. Her father was a Union soldier in the Civil war, and for a number of years was a grain merchant at Columbus Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Reehling have four children: Adelbert Ira, born in 1876, and now a res- ident of Alexandria, where he is agent for the American Express Company and is un- married; Esreula, who died at the age of two years; Lula, born in 1882, and died a day after her birth; and Ellen Clara, born in 1895, and still at home with the family.
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She is a graduate of the high school and took two years of musical instruction in the Indiana Musical Conservatory.
Mr. Reehling in political matters is strictly independent. In 1876 he was elected on the citizens ticket as councilman for the Second Ward at Bluffton, Ohio. For a number of years he was quite active in political affairs but finally became dis- gusted with politics and has exercised his strictly independent judgment in support- ing any candidate. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Alexandria, and belongs to the subordinate lodge and uni- form rank of the Knights of Pythias.
1
HON. HARRY L. CRUMPACKER, now serv- ing a second term as judge of the Superior Court of Porter and LaPorte counties, was admitted to the bar in 1905, and has ac- cumulated many distinctions in the brief period of his professional work. Judge Crumpacker's home since beginning prac- tice has been at Michigan City.
It is doubtful if any family has contrib- uted more names to the substantial citizen- ship, the farming and business and profes- sional activities of Northwestern Indiana. The thirteen American colonies were hardly organized when John Crumpacker emi- grated from Holland in 1762 and settled in Bedford County, Virginia. The family lived in Virginia many years. Owen Crum- packer, a son of John, was born in Bote- tourt County, Virginia, in 1783, and was an American soldier in the War of 1812, serving with the Seventh Virginia Regi- ment. He married Hannah Woodford.
The third son of this couple was Theo- philus Crumpacker, grandfather of Judge Crumpacker. Theophilus was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, January 17, 1823.
About 1828 Owen Crumpacker brought his family west to Indiana, first locating in Union County, in 1832 coming to Porter County, and Owen was a farmer there un- til his death, when about sixty-five years of age. His wife, Hannah, reached the ad- vanced age of eighty-six.
Theophilus Crumpacker was a small boy when brought to Indiana. He lived in Porter and LaPorte Counties, and for a year or so during the Civil war had his home on a farm near Kankakee, Illinois. He then returned to Porter County and es- tablished his home on a farm three miles
east of Valparaiso. In 1890 he retired from his farm and made his home in Valparaiso until his death November 27, 1908. The- ophilus Crumpacker married Harriet Em- mons, who was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, December 23, 1822, daughter of William and Elsie (Kirk) Emmons. The Emmons family was of Scotch-Irish descent and they moved West from Virginia at an early date, Wil- liam Emmons establishing a home in Cass County, Michigan, in 1832. He died at the age of sixty-eight, and his widow, Elsie, survived to the age of eighty-one.
Theophilus Crumpacker and wife had eight children, namely : John W., father of Judge Crumpacker; Edgar D., who was born May 27, 1852, was admitted to the bar in 1876, and for many years has been a prominent figure in the public life of the state and the nation, representing the Tenth Indiana District in Congress from 1897 to 1913; Daniel W., long in the rail- way mail service; Eliza A., who married Melvin W. Lewis; Peter, for many years a lawyer at Hammond; Dora A., who mar- ried Iredell Luther; Charles, of Valpa- raiso; and Grant, a prominent Valparaiso lawyer. Nearly all the Crumpackers have had a tendency to go into polities. Theo- philus was one of the early day republi- cans, and for three terms represented his district in the State Legislature and was a factor in local politics in Porter County.
John W. Crumpacker, father of Judge Crumpacker, was born in New Durham Township of LaPorte County, March 9, 1849. He spent most of his youth in Por- ter County on his father's farm, was edu- cated in the rural schools and the North- ern Indiana Normal School, now the Val- paraiso University, and at one time was a teacher. In 1872 he was appointed deputy county treasurer of Porter County, serving until 1879. In the fall of 1878 he was elected county treasurer and by re-election in 1880 filled that office with the confidence and efficiency familiarly associated with the Crumpacker family until August, 1883. In 1884 he became cashier and manager of the Hobart Bank of Valparaiso. Then, in February, 1885, he assumed his duties as cashier of the LaPorte Savings Bank, and was a well known LaPorte banker from that time until his death, which occurred in 1913.
January 3, 1877, John W. Crumpacker
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married Anna J. Smith. She was born in Norwalk, Ohio, a daughter of Hiram and Harriet (Ashley) Smith, both natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. John W. Crumpacker now makes her home with her only son and child, Judge Crumpacker. John W. Crum- packer was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Harry L. Cumpacker was born at Val- paraiso, Indiana, May 6, 1881. He ac- quired a liberal education, graduating from the LaPorte High School in 1899, and then entering the University of Michigan. He received his A. B. degree in 1903, and cou- tinned his studies in the law department until attaining the LL. B. degree in 1905. In the fall of the same year he began ac- tive practice at Michigan City and enjoyed a large business as a lawyer until entering upon his duties on the bench. He served as city attorney, and in 1914 was elected judge of the Superior Court for the district of LaPorte and Porter counties. He was re-elected in 1918.
In 1907 Judge Crumpacker married Miss Blanche E. Bosserman, a native of LaPorte and daughter of Charles and Emma ( Web- ber) Bosserman. Her father was of early Pennsylvanian ancestry and was long prominent in the business affairs of La- Porte, where he lived many years, until his death. Mrs. Crumpacker's maternal grand- father, Leroy D. Webber, was a native of Chautauqua County, New York, and a son of Stebbins F. and Emeline (Pope) Web- ber, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of New York. Leroy D. Webber located at LaPorte as early as 1851, and in the same year engaged in the hard- ware business. That business is still con- tinned under the name the Webber Hard- ware Company. He served as mayor of the city and as a member of the school board.
Judge and Mrs. Crumpacker had three children : John W., Helen, and Louise. Mrs. Crumpacker died in 1914. Judge Crumpacker is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is affiliated with Theta Delta Chi fraternity, Acme Lodge No. 83, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Washington Lodge No. 94, Knights of Pythias, is a member of the Potawattomie Country Club, of the Michigan City Cham- her of Commerce, and the Young Men's Christian Association. Like his father and
practically all the family, he is a steadfast republican.
BARZILLAI OWEN BARNES, deceased, was manager and treasurer of the Union Grain & Feed Company of Anderson. This is an industry that has grown and prospered un- til its products are now recognized as standard in quality and excellence over many states. With the growth of the in- dustry Mr. Barnes was a practical influ- ence and did much to give the business its splendid reputation and success.
Mr. Barnes was a native of Ohio, born at Somerset in Perry County in 1870, son of John and Phoebe (Bowman) Barnes. Some of his ancestors were English and some of Pennsylvania Dutch stock, but the family for the most part have been in America for a number of generations. Go- ing back over the different generations most of the men have been farmers. Mr. Barnes grew up on his father's farm in Perry County, Ohio, being educated in the country schools, the Somerset High School and in 1900 graduated Ph. B. from Otter- bein University at Westerville, Ohio. He continued a member of the Alumni Asso- ciation of that splendid Ohio institution.
For two years after leaving college Mr. Barnes remained at Westerville as assist- ant cashier of the local bank. In 1903 he removed to Anderson, Indiana, and for four years was manager of the fire insur- ance and renting departments of the Union Savings & Investment Company. Then, in 1907, he went with the Union Grain & Coal Company, being bookkeeper for one year, and from 1908 was its manager, and was also treasurer, stockholder and director. This company ships and manufactures a large variety of stock feeds. Under their individual brand and trade mark they mar- ket three brands of chicken feed, two brands of dairy feed, two brands of horse feed and also special feeds for hogs and other domestic animals. They also manufacture considerable quantities of corn meal and corn flour. Their shipments go east as far as Boston, and are distrib- uted over a number of states in the Middle West. The capacity of the plant is eighty tons per day. It is a business which has grown up gradually, altogether on the merit of the products, and without excessive ad- vertising or stimulation.
Mr. Barnes was also a man of other in-
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terests in Anderson. He was a republican voter and a member of the United Breth- ren Church. In 1903 he married Miss Maggie Lambert, daughter of G. A. and Glendora Lambert, of Union City, Indiana. They had a household of three children, Albert Owen, aged twelve, Glendora, aged ten, and Dwight Lambert, aged five. Mrs. Barnes died September 10, 1916. On March 28, 1918, Mr. Barnes married Esther May Downey. She was born in Anderson, In- diana, where she was reared and educated. Mr. Barnes died October 10, 1918. His widow is still a resident of Anderson, In- diana.
ARTHUR ROESKE occupies an important position in business circles at Michigan City, and is in a line of industry which has been in the family in that locality for up- wards of fifty years. He is secretary and manager of the Riselay Brick Company.
For several generations the Roeske fam- ily were farmers and shepherds in Eastern Germany in the Province of Posen, now included within the limits of the new na- tion of Poland. His great-grandfather died in Posen in middle life. Christian Roeske was born, reared and married in, Posen, and during his early life tended many large flocks in that country. He married Augusta Pahl, whose father died in Germany at the advanced age of ninety- eight and his mother at eighty-three. In 1864 Christian Roeske, accompanied by his sons Michael and Christopher, came to America, traveling by sailing vessel and being fourteen weeks on the ocean. They landed at Quebec and on the 25th of June reached Michigan City after a journey down the St. Lawrence River and around the lakes to Detroit, and thence by railroad to Michigan City. Another member of the family was his daughter, Augusta. Later they were joined by his wife and sons. August and Theodore. Christian Roeske after some varied employment bought eighty acres of timbered land in Michigan. Township, and took his family to that place in the country. He died there at the age of fifty-four in 1870, his widow surviving many years and passing away at the age of eighty-five. Both were members of the Lutheran Church. They had nine chil- dren, six sons and three daughters.
The late Christopher Roeske, father of Arthur Roeske, was born near Gromden in
Posen, Germany, April 27, 1847. He was educated in his native land and worked there as a shepherd. He was seventeen years old when the family came to Michi- gan City, and he at once took upon him- self the responsibilities of providing for his own living and assisting the family in getting settled. For a time he was em- ployed as a construction hand by the Mich- igan Central Railroad. Later he worked in a factory and on his father's farm, and learned the brick making business in the plant of Charles Kellogg at Michigan City. Having learned the business, in 1869 he and his brothers leased a tract of land from Reynolds Couden and established a brick plant of their own. After seven years they bought the brick yard and sawmill of Denton Miller, and continued both enter- prises until 1880. In that year the saw- mill was abandoned and they erected a flour mill on Waterford Road. This mill was made thoroughly modern in all its equipment and machinery, and had a ca- pacity of 100 barrels per day. The four brothers continued the business until the death of Michael, and soon afterward Theo- dore retired on account of ill health. Christopher and August then continued the business together, operating a large brick yard where about 6,000,000 bricks were made every year, and also the flour mill. Christopher Roeske was active in business until his death August 22, 1912. He was a director of the Citizens Bank of Michigan City, and was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, and Knights Templar. In politics he was a democrat, and served several terms as county commissioner.
Christopher Roeske married Mrs. Au- gusta (Meese) Matthias, widow of Peter Matthias. She was born in Mecklinburg Schwerin, Germany, and when a girl came to America with her foster mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Heitman. By her first marriage she had five children: Anna, who married Hermann Warnke; Dora, who married Henry Warnke; Alexander, Peter, and William Matthias. Mr. and Mrs. Christo- pher Roeske had four children: Arthur, Oscar, Martha, and Lydia. Martha is the wife of O. I. Lowe and Lydia married William Staiger.
Arthur Rocske was born at Michigan City January 1, 1877, and during his youth attended the parochial and public schools.
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After completing his education in the pub- lie schools he took a course in the Michi- gan City Business College, and then be- came associated with his father in business. In February, 1917, he became cashier of the First Calumet Trust and Savings Bank. He was already financially interested in the Riselay Brick Company, and in 1918 he resigned his position with the bank to devote all his time to the affairs of this company of which he is secretary and manager.
December 4, 1901, Mr. Roeske married Miss Emma Darman, a native of Michigan City. Her father, Fred Darman, was born in Schleswig, Germany, son of Fred Dar- man, Sr., who brought his family to Amer- ica and settled in Porter County, Indiana, buying a farm near the east line of that county and not far from Westville. Late in life he moved to Michigan City, where he died. Fred Darman, Jr., was reared and educated in his native land, and after coming to America lived for a time in Buf- falo, New York, and then came to Indiana and was a farmer in Porter County, but for many years lived in Michigan City and was engineer at the city waterworks. He died at the age of sixty-nine. Fred Dar- man, Jr., married Augusta Klank, who was born in Pomerania, Germany, and came to America when a young woman, probably being the only member of her family to come to this country. She died at the age of thirty-four. Mr. and Mrs. Roeske have two sons, Arthur Gerald and Ralph Christopher. Mr. and Mrs. Roeske are members of St. John's Evangelical Church, and fraternally he is affiliated with Acme Lodge No. 83, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, Michigan City Chapter No. 83, Royal Arch Masons, Michigan City Council No. 56, Royal and Select Masters, and Michigan City Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar.
JAMES T. ROYSE gave three of the best years of his young manhood to fighting the cause of the Union in the Civil War, and since then for more than half a century has been identified with the business life of Indiana, chiefly as a merchant. For the past fifteen years he has lived at Elwood, and is sole proprietor of the J. T. Royse, house furnishings, stoves and ready to wear goods, one of the largest mercantile houses of the city.
Mr. Royse was born at New Albany, In- diana, March 23, 1842, son of H. H. and Sarah (Polson) Royse. The family has been in America many generations, and were pioneers in Kentucky. For the most part the Royses have been agriculturists. H. H. Royse in 1832 established a stove factory at New Albany, Indiana, the oldest. stove manufacturing concern in the state. H. H. Royse died in 1872 and his wife in 1859. They had three sons and four daughters.
James T. Royse, youngest of the family, was educated in the common schools of his native town. His education was continued only to his fourteenth year, after which he went to work learning the tinsmith busi- ness. In 1859 he went out to Iowa and lived on the farm of his uncle, Irwin Pol- son, in Marion County until July, 1861.
Mr. Royse's military service is credited to an Iowa regiment. He enlisted October 17, 1861, in the Fourth Iowa Infantry, and was a soldier three years and six weeks. He was mustered out and given an honor- able discharge in 1864, at the end of three years, but re-enlisted and stayed until practically the end of the war. He took part in the concluding campaign of the Union armies in the Southwest, fighting at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and was in the great Pittsburg campaign, including the battles of Jackson and Tupelo. For all the dan- gers to which he was exposed he was never injured. Mr. Royse for a number of years has had membership in John A. Logan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at La- fayette, Indiana.
After the war he settled at Rockville in Parke County, Indiana, and for a year had a half interest in a general store with J. A. Moreland under the name Moreland & Royse. Returning to New Albany, he con- ducted a hat store in that city for seven years.
In 1872 Mr. Royse married Virginia Smith, daughter of George W. and Nancy (Herrick) Smith, who were originally a Virginia family. By this marriage Mr. Royse had two children, Mary, born in 1873 and died at the age of sixteen; and George, who now lives at Indianapolis and is connected with the Indianapolis Gas Company.
From New Albany Mr. Royce located at Indianapolis, where he established a fur- niture house near the old postoffice on Mar-
Frank E. Rochm
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ket Street. Three years later he moved to Washington Street, fronting the State House, and was in business there for twelve years. His next location was at Terre Haute, where he managed a rug sell- ing agency employing seventy-five sales- men, and he sold goods on an extensive scale and did a very profitable business for nine years. After that he opened another furniture business and remained at Terre Haute nine years, his store being on Main and Seventh streets.
For a brief time after that he was again at Indianapolis, and then opened a furni- ture house at Lafayette, where he remained ten years .. In the meantime he had estab- lished branch stores at Elwood and at Alexandria, and in 1902 he removed to El- wood and has since concentrated all his work and attention to the main store in that city. He has a large trade in the city and the surrounding country for fifteen or twenty miles. Mr. Royce has also ac- quired other business interests and has con- siderable local real estate.
In February, 1887, he married for his second wife Cora Lee Plant, daughter of James and Sarah Plant. They have two children, Corinne, Mrs. Ray Nuding of Elwood, and Ruth, who married Harry Banfield of Elwood, and has a son, James, born in 1911.
Mr. Royse is a republican in politics. He is affiliated with Masonry in the Lodge and Royal Arch Chapters, has served as trustee of Elwood Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. His church home is the Methodist.
W. O. CRAWFORD. A business that has furnished a service to the critical demands of the Richmond public for over sixty-five years is the dry goods and house furnish- ing firm now under the sole ownership and direction of W. O. Crawford, and formerly established by his grandfather. During its existence three generations of the fam- ily have been identified with it.
W. O. Crawford was born at Richmond in 1863, a son of John Y. and Ella S. (Mitchell) Crawford. He is of Scotch- Trish ancestry, and many members of the family were agriculturists. His grand- father, Daniel B. Crawford, opened the first general store in Richmond, on Main Street. between Fourth and Fifth streets. Vol. V-12
He opened this in 1850 under the firm name of Scott & Crawford. In 1857 he became sole owner, and the business was continued under the name Daniel B. Craw- ford until he took his son, John Y., into partnership. Daniel B. Crawford died in 1888. The firm of D. B. Crawford & Son was changed to John Y. Crawford, and on October 6, 1912, W. O. Crawford succeeded to the business.
Mr. Crawford received a grammar and high school education in Richmond and at the age of fourteen entered his father's store. He learned rapidly and was a dili- gent workman, and hard work has been part of his program every year of his life to the present time and accounts largely for his success.
In 1887 he married Rossie L. Craig, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Craig of Richmond. They have two sons: John Malcolm, born January 14, 1900, and Rich- ard Wallace, born in 1906. Mr. Crawford is a republican voter, is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and his church affiliations are with the Presbyterian.
FRANK E. ROEHM, of the firm of Schlegel & Roehm, contractors and builders, with offices in the Lombard Building at Indian- apolis, has had nearly thirty years of prac- tical experience in the building line. He engaged in business for himself after re- signing the position of superintendent with the old and well known firm of W. P. Jungelans Company.
Mr. Roehm is a son of John and Mary (Scherger) Roehm. His father, a native of Germany. came to the United States between 1849 and 1850, and after a brief residence in Cincinnati moved to Dearborn County, Indiana, where he worked at his trade as shoemaker. This trade he had learned in the old country. He was a skill- ful workman, diligent, and made a good living for his family. He was active in his work until a short time before his death. Soon after coming to the United States he became a naturalized citizen, and was an American in spirit as well as in profession. He died when thirty-two years of age, and his widow is still living. They were the parents of seven children. The father was a democrat, but never aspired to any office.
Frank E. Roehm, next to the youngest
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child, received a common school education, attending school in Dearborn and Frank- lin counties, but after he was fourteen he left home and became self supporting. His ample success in subsequent years is the more creditable because of this early in- dependence and self-direction. His first experience was as a farm laborer. He did not find farming congenial, and he soon moved across the state line into Ohio and for a year and a half was employed as caretaker of a small estate. Mr. Roehm came to Indianapolis in 1891, and became a carpenter's apprentice with the firm of Jungelaus & Schoemacher. After his ap- prenticeship he continued work with the same firm as a journeyman until they dis- solved partnership, and he then continued with the W. P. Jungclaus Company. He was advanced from foreman to superin- tendent of construction, and resigned in 1914 to form a partnership with Mr. Schlegel under the name of Schlegel & Roehm, general contractors and builders. They have the facilities and experience for the adequate handling of practically any contract. Mr. Roehm is the practical man, in charge of all outside construction, while his partner is chief estimator and office manager.
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