USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Memoirs of Wayne County and the city of Richmond, Indiana; from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Wayne County, Volume II Pt II > Part 2
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BIOGRAPIIICAL
burgh, is a daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Stahler) Fouts, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Philadelphia, Pa They were married in Ohio and later came to Wayne county, settling on what is now the farm of John M. Mendenhall, in Jefferson township. They relocated later on the present Oscar Brown farm and both died there. The father was always a farmer and both he and his wife were members of the Church of the Brethren. He died at the age of eighty-one years, July 15, 1893, and she died Feb. 27, 1897, aged ninety-three years. To them were born two children-Mary A., and Margaret, widow of Samuel Brown. Mr. Fouts' people were from North Carolina.
Adam Rowe, of Jefferson township, is descended from one of the German families whose dauntless spirits conquered the wilder- ness and whose fortitude and steadfast principles for right have done so much to build up not only this community but the country in general. He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, March 14, 1851, son of John and Caroline Rowe, born in Germany, where they were married, and in 1843, with two children, migrated to America, landing in the city of Baltimore. The name Rowe has been di- verted from Rough, the German form of spelling. John Rowe re- mained in Maryland until 1861, and then, feeling the call of the newer country in the West, with his family came to Indiana, set- tling in Jefferson township, this county, where he purchased land and lived until his death, April 15, 1896. Although active in poli- ties and other public duties, he never held office of great impor- tance, but considered his duty and honest political convictions paramount to any issues in either civil or political life. He and his first wife were members of the Church of the Brethren. Of their marriage were born eight children: Magdaline married Day d Replogle, of Wayne county; Thomas married Lizzie Ben- nett ; Caroline married David Werking, of Henry county ; Susan R. married David Rhodes, of Henry county ; John marned Catherine Hoover, of Jefferson township; Adam is the sixth in order of birth ; Christina married Martin Werking, of Wayne county ; and one child died in infancy. After the death of his first wife John Rowe was married to Lydia L. Brown, daughter of Samuel Brown, who came to Hagerstown from Maryland about 1850, and many years was a justice of the peace, being known as "'Squire Brown." Of this union were born eleven children: Anna M. is the wife of Oliver Brown, of Hagerstown; Catherine is the wife of John Teeter, of Hagerstown; Emma is the wife of Lloyd Williams, of Indianapolis; Charles married Ida Gephardt and resides in Mun- cie ; Rebecca is the wife of Lewis Waltz, of Anderson ; Etta is the wife of William Dawley, of California; William resides in Bloom- ingdale, Ohio; Agues is the wife of William Jessup. of Anderson ; Oliver married Amanda Deresdorf and resides in Hagerstown ; Liz- zie is the wife of Wayne Nicholson, of Anderson, Ind ; and Myrtle is the wife of Arthur Champlin. Adam Rowe's early education was obtained in the schools of Maryland and in the schools of the town- ship of his adoption in Wayne county. He assisted his father on the farm until twenty-one years old and then began his independ-
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ent career, working as a farmhand by the month twenty years. He then rented land five years, at the end of which period he pur- chased the farm of 140 acres where he resides, and where he has made many modern improvements. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. In 1882, in Jefferson township, he was married to Georgie Ella Brown, daughter of David and Maria ( Knode) Brown, natives of Maryland, the former born in Washington county, Nov. II, 1814, and the latter on May 11, 1815. The father died Nov. 13, 1890, and the mother in 1809. They were married Jan. 15, 1837, and were members of the Church of the Brethren. One child was born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rowe, but it died in infancy. The farm where Mr. and Mrs. Rowe reside is the old Brown home- stead. Mrs. Rowe is one of ten children born to her parents: Hamilton W. died in childhood; Richard 11., Samuel 11 .. Archibald K., and Molly are deceased ; Thomas T. married Adelia Hawser and resides in Clinton, Mo .; Anna Amelia is the widow of William Burns and resides in Hagerstown; Oliver D. is deceased; Mrs. Rowe was born Sept. 27, 1853 ; and one child died in infancy. David Brown moved to Wayne county in 1850 and settled on a farm in Jefferson township, one-half mile north of Hagerstown. In 1858 he moved to a farm one and one-half miles north of Hagerstown, where Adam Rowe resides, and there spent the balance of his hie.
John Carver Keever, one of the representative farmers in the township of Dalton, where he is extensively engaged in agri- ul- tural pursuits, is a native son of Wayne county and a scion of one of the old and honored families of this section of the State. He was born in Dalton township, this county, Aug. 6, 1854, a son of Moses and Sarah ( Bales) Keever, the father born in Ohio, in 1828, and the mother in Dalton township, where her forebears located in the early pioneer period. Joseph Keever, paternal grandfather of the subject of this review, was a native of Ohio and a son of Henry Keever, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania, later removed to Kentucky and thence to Ohio, where Joseph was born. Joseph Keever married and became the father of ten children: Seneca married Phoebe Waltz and they had eight children-William, in- seph, Pauline, Helen, Charlotte, Peter, Lorin, and Theodore; Ma- linda became the wife of John Brooks and they had seven chil- dren-Nelson, Louzina, Lorinda, Emma, Delilah, and Mary and Sarah, twins; Moses was the third in order of birth; Joseph died in 1844; Margaret became the wife of Mahlon Beeson and they had three children-Wilbert, Ella, and Laura; Jackson married Mary Fleming and they had five children-Marens, Ella, Katie, Gran- ville, and Moses; Mary J. married Warren Lowrey and they had a son, Nelson ; William married Mrs. Anna ( Bales) Beeson ; Miles married Margaret Leavell, who bore him two children-Levi and Franklin-and after the death of his first wife he married Ilien Martin, who bore him six children-Allie, Hearsey, Lou, Grant, Otto, and Roscoe ; and Abram married Mary Jackson and they had three children-Leslie, Ola, and Bertha. More - Keever was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm, in Dalton township, duly availing hinnself of the advantages of the - mmon schools. Ile
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continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits after initiating his independent career, which occupation he followed throughout life, until his death in 1885. Ile was well known and highly esteemed in this connty and, while never an aspirant for public office, gave a zealous support to the cause of the Republican party. He married Sarah Bales, daughter of John Bales, who came to Indiana at the age of nine years, in 1808, with his father, Jacob Bales. The Bales family located in Dalton township and John Bales resided there until 1860, when he removed to Randolph coun- ty and died there in 1884. Of the three children born to Moses Keever and wife, the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Clara is the wife of William Root, a farmer of Dalton township, and they have three children-Everett E., Charles P., and John C .; and a brother, Oliver P., died when eighteen months old. John C. Keever secured his preliminary educational training in the public schools of Dalton township. He began farming for himself when eighteen years old, renting land two years, and then purchased a farm of eighty acres, to which he later added two tracts-one of twenty and one of sixty- - both in Dalton township, and this land he oper- ated until 1905, when he purchased the place where he resides, consisting of twenty-one acres, retaining the other farms. In addi- tion he owns fifteen acres north of his residence and another tract of forty acres, making his total landed possessions 236 acres. IIe is an up-to-date farmer and stock raiser, enterprising, and a man of affairs in his township. In his political allegiance Mr. Keever is found arrayed as a loyal supporter of the cause of the Republican party. On Oct. 20, 1875, Mr. Keever was united in marriage to Miss Romana Lamb, daughter of Caleb and Cecelia ( Locke) Lamb, the former of whom died in 1910, aged seventy-three years. The mother died in 1898, aged sixty-one years. Caleb Lamb was a na- tive of Henry county, Indiana, and was a carpenter by trade, also followed farming. In the later years of his life he lived retired at Greensboro, Henry county, Indiana. He was a member of the regiment commanded by Sol. Meredith during the Civil war. His wife was born in Perry township, and of their union was one child, Romana, born Oct. 8, 1859. Mr. and Mrs. Keever, having no chil- dren, reared Ernest Anderson from the age of seven years to man- hood. He married Amy Baldwin and they had a daughter, Lulu Fern, born July 18, 1896. When the daughter was seven years old the mother died, and Mr. and Mrs. Keever took the daughter, who is now in the first year at high school. Mr. and Mrs. Keever are members of the West River Friends' Church.
Albert Nathan Chamness is one of the younger generation of farmers of Dalton township and the success which he has achieved in life marks him as a man of more than ordinary acquirements. He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, Sept. 19, 1873, son of Mahlon H. and Emily (Hodgin) Chamness, born in Randolph county, the father on Jan. 24, 1840. The paternal grandfather was Joshua Chamness, who came from North Carolina and located at Green's Fork, in Wayne county, and later removed to Randolph county, where he resided until his death. He was a strong Aboli-
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tionist and his convictions on the slavery question caused his emi- gration from North Carolina. He was married to Hannah Cham- ness and shortly afterward came to Indiana. After six years he re- turned to North Carolina and brought his father -- William Cham- ness-and mother to Indiana. In the family of Joshua Chamness were five children: Isaac married Elizabeth Dennis and they had six children-Marion, Milton, Esther, Maggie, Elmina, and Lizzie; Mary became the wife of Jesse Pidgeon, of Dalton township, and they had eight children-David, William, Martha, Lizzie, Belle. Wilson, Ella, and John ; Isabella received an injury which rendered her an invalid for thirteen years and is living in the village of Franklin ; Mahlon 11. is the next in order of birth; and Rachel is the wife of David Morris, of California, and they have six children- Lizzie (a missionary to the Esquimaux in Alaska), Lincoln, Bertha, Belle, Lenna, and Albert. Mahlon H. Chamness was reared in Randolph county and followed farming all of his active career, his farm adjoining the old homestead. He now lives retired with In's sister, Isabella, in the village of Franklin. His wife, who died Nov. 24, 1908, was Emily Hodgin, daughter of Nathan and Mournen (Coffin) Hodgin, who lived for many years in Wayne county, and Nathan Ilodgin died in Fountain City, in 1902, at the advanced age of ninety years. Emily (Hodgin) Chamness was one of eight children born to her parents, the others being: Abigail, who mar- ried Asa Bond, of Grant county; Eunice, who married James Bunch, a minister of the Friends' church in Oklahoma; Ruth, who married Allen Thorne, of Fountain City; Martha, who married Caldwell Townsend, of Grant county ; Milton, who resides at Foun- tain City, married Malinda Reese, and after her death was wedded to Mrs. Mahala ( Bales) Jackson; and Rosa, who is the wife of Rollie Collins, of Fountain City. Mahlon H. Chamness and wife became the parents of two children: Lorinda A. is the wife of Oliver P. Shafer, a farmer of Henry county, and they have two chil- dren-Roscoe D. and Elbert M .; and Albert N. Albert N. Cham- ness received his primary education in the public schools of Ran- dolph county and was reared to the occupation of a farmer. After reaching man's estate he entered the hardware and well drilling business, under the firm name of Shafer & Chamness, at Moore- land, Ind., and that occupation he followed for a period of seven years. He then began farming in Perry township, this county, and two years later located in Dalton township. In 1902 he purchased the farm of 143 acres, whereon he has since followed general farm- ing, and in addition operates an extensive maple syrup plant in season. For fourteen years he also followed the threshing busi- ness. His farm has the advantages of a very fertile soil and all modern improvements. Mr. Chamness is a Republican in his po- litical affiliations and his religious faith is expressed by member- ship in the Friends' church. In 1904 he was elected trustee of Dalton township and held that office one term His early educa- tional equipment has fitted him for any position in life. After completing the course of the common schools he attended Danville College, at Danville, Ind., and later took a course in Ball Busi-
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ness College at Muncie. On Oct. 9, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Chamness to Miss Rebecca E. Hiatt, the ceremony being performed according to the rites of the Friends' marriage ceremony, and the marriage was solemnized in the Friends' church at Econ- omy. Mrs. Chamness is a daughter of Oliver and Emma (Ed- wards) Hiatt, of Perry township, and of this union there have been born two children-Vaughan Oliver, born April 20, 1898, and Helen Celia, born Oct. 6, 1904. The parents of Mrs. Chamness are natives of Wayne county, and the father has followed farming all of his active career. To him and his estimable wife were born three children : Lawrence, who resides in Randolph county, mar- ried Nellie Frazier, who bore him three children-Mildred, Pauline, and Wilber-and after her death he married Mrs. Lydia ( Hill) Love; Mrs. Chammess, who is the second in order of birth, was born on March, 15, 1877 ; and Celia is the wife of Glenn Shively, a farmer of Miami connty, and they have a daughter, Margaret.
Bertsch Family .- The following is the result of an attempt to secure an account of the Bertsch family in the line of descent from the first American ancestor to those of the name who are now so prominently connected with industrial affairs in Wayne county. Christian Bertsch was the immigrant to America and came in the later days of the Colonial period. There is a general agreement among those of his descendants who are well informed that the name is of French origin. It was and has been spelled in various ways. In the French language it is pronounced as if spelled "Bar-shay." In Pennsylvania it has often been transformed into Bartsch, Barge, Berge, and into other forms of spelling. It is claimed by some that the proper way is Bartsch and that Bertsch is the German form. However, in the old records of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, the name is spelled Bertsch, so far as Chris- tian, the immigrant, is concerned. There is another agreement that this first immigrant came from the Province of Alsace, which was at one time a portion of Eastern France but, since 1871, a part of the German Empire, along with Lorraine. From these provinces came mich of the Protestant-Huguenot immigration to America, fleeing from religions persecution, and the majority of them adhered to the Reformed denomination. Christian Bertsch could speak both the German and French languages, as was com- monly the case with his countrymen, who lived in a region which had alternately been under the sway of both the French and Ger- man governments. According to the records of Egypt Church, of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, he was born Ang. 17, 1753. So far as the records have been searched there is no data showing the exact time when he came to America, but it was doubtless before the Revolution and when he was a boy or young man. According to tradition and also the records among the Pennsylvania archives, Christian Bertsch was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Ile was at that period a young man of from twenty-three to twenty- eight years. In the archives he is mentioned, in Book 4, page 601, as serving under Captain Serfus in the first class of the Northamp- ton county militia, in actual service in the United States army.
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MEMOIRS OF WAYNE COUNTY
The regiment was under command of Col. Christian Shaus. This is recorded Sept. 22, 1781. Nearly twenty years later, in the troublesome period of the "Whisky Rebellion," led by Jolin Freas, he again took up arms in defense of the National government. This occurred about 1799, and as he marched away from home his son, Christian, then a boy of eight years, recollected seeing his mother crying as the father left the door of their home. The insurgents had dispersed into marauding bands in that part of Northampton county where Christian Bertsch resided, so he, with others, built a fort and stocked it with arms and provisions, making ready for defense against a siege. He was then in the prime of life, being about forty-six years old. The marriage of Christian Bertsch took place in the period of the Revolution, about the year 1779. His wife is supposed to have been of a German family, though this is not certain. Her name was Julianna Seiberling (sometimes spelled Seyberling in the old records). She was born Sept. 12, 1758, and a very long life appears to have been granted her, as her death occurred Sept. 7, 1837, at the age of seventy-nine years. The chil- dren of this union were ten in number, born on the following dates : Margaretta, March 24, 1780; Maria Barbara, June 13, 1782; Juli- anna, Aug. 1, 1784; Magdalena, March 5, 1786; Julianna (second), March 22, 1789; Christian, Jr., Oct. 22, 1791 ; Maria Mary, June 13, 1797; John, 1793; Jacob, and Daniel, Dec. 20, 1801. Christian Bertsch and wife Julianna are buried at Cherryville, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and the name on the tombstone is spelled "Berge." Christian was an extensive land owner and most of his sons were well-to-do farmers, one being an extensive owner and operator of coal mines. Christian was one of the foremost men in the congregation of Egypt Church and was one of the largest and best contributors, presenting a Bible to the congregation in 1780. Jacob Bertsch, his ninth child in order of birth, was a prosperous farmer. Ile married Barbara Apt and of this union were born children, among whom was Adam Bertsch, father of Charles Adam Bertsch, founder and present head of the manufacturing firm of Bertsch & Company, at Cambridge City, this county. Adam Bertsch, father of Charles A., was a prominent farmer in Butler county, Ohio, where he resided until 1864, when he removed to Wayne county, Indiana. He was an industrious and frugal man, with an unusually sympathetic nature. He was a Lutheran in his religious faith and took a serious and active interest in the church and its affairs. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Jacoby and among their children was Charles Adam Bertsch, heretofore mentioned. Charles Adam Bertsch was born at Hickory Flat, Butler county, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1851, and came to Wayne coun- ty with his parents in his seventh year; and with the exception of several short intervals has spent his life in Wayne county. He received his early scholastic training in the public schools of Wayne county and began his independent career by renting and operating for a time a grist mill near Hagerstown. He is the inventor of the Diamond Burr Dresser. While still engaged in the grist mill busi- ness he purchased, fattened, and sold cattle and hogs, and later
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continued in the cattle business in Missouri one year. Returning to Wayne county, he purchased and operated two meat markets in Cambridge City and finally formed a partnership in that business with his brother, J. J. Bertsch. About this time he again spent several months in the West-in Kansas-buying, fattening, and shipping cattle and hogs. Later he and his brother, J. J. Bertsch, purchased the Cambridge City Agricultural & Machine Works, which they operated and managed under that name, manufacturing agricultural implements, until the firm name and kind of output were changed, in 1884, Charles A. Bertsch having invented several valuable and useful patents during that time in the line of agri- cultural implements. In 1884 the firm name became Bertsch & Company, but the ownership remained unchanged. At this time the company began to build small tinner's squaring shears and forming rolls, and the present business has been built up by the manufacture of that line of tools-punches, shears, and rolls for punching, cutting, and rolling plates, structural shapes, and sheet metal. They are used in shipyards, railroad shops, rolling mills, sheet iron shops, boiler shops, structural iron shops, tank works, etc. The company has built several of these machines, each of which weighed fifty-five tons. They have been shipped to every State in the Union and to Canada, Australia, South America, Japan, and England. The brother, J. J. Bertsch, died in 1893, and in 1897 Charles A. Bertsch purchased from his brother's heirs their inter- est in the business, and has since been the sole owner and pro- prietor. From his boyhood days lie has been a loyal supporter and worker in the Lutheran church at East Germantown and is one of its most liberal contributors. In the matter of politics he es- pouses the Democratic cause. Mr. Bertsch married Miss Susanna Anna Howard, of Cambridge City, daughter of the late Isaiah and Mary Ann (Berg) Howard. Isaiah Howard was born in York county, Pennsylvania, Feb. 22, 1813. Ten children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bertsch, and of them the following specific mention is appropriately made: Lawrence Howard Bertsch was born Oct. 18, 1879; graduated in the Cambridge City High School in 1897, and in the Indianapolis Business University in 1898; from 1898 to 1901 he was a student at Earlham College; received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the Indiana University in 1902, and that of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1907; is the mechanical engineer for the firm of Bertsch & Company, at Cambridge City ; in politics is a Democrat and was the Democratic candidate for Joint Repre- sentative from Wayne and Fayette counties in 1910; is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, the Masonic lodge, the Richmond Country Club, and his religious affiliations are with the Lutheran church. Walter Raymond Bertsch was born July 18, 1881, at Cambridge City ; was educated in the Cambridge City High School and at Indiana University ; is employed as assistant manager of the firm of Bertsch & Company ; is a Republican in politics and is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Nina Ethel Bertsch was born Nov. 29, 1882. Joshua Alvin Bertsch was born at Cambridge
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City, March 18, 1885; graduated in the Cambridge City High School in 1905; from 1905 to 1907 was a student of mechanical engineering in the University of Michigan, and from 1907 to 1909 in the Indiana University, and is the present superintendent of the firm of Bertsch & Company ; he is independent in politics and has membership in the Sigma Chi fraternity. Harry Evert Bertsch was born in Cambridge City, Nov. 29, 1886; graduated in the Cambridge City High School in 1906; in the years 1906-1907 was a student of mechanical engineering in the University of Michigan, and from 1908 to toto in the Indiana University, and is now as- sistant superintendent of the firm of Bertsch & Company; he is independent in politics and has membership in the Sigma Chi fra- ternity. The names of the other children, with the dates of their respective births follow: Mary Elizabeth, April 27, 1889; Ilazel Anna, April 16, 1802; Ruth Ophelia, Jan. 6, 1894; Robert Oscar, Jan. 15, 1896; and Charles Russell, born March 23, 1900, died on March 27, of the same year. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bertsch was Henry Howard, born in England, and her maternal grandfather was David Berg, born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, of German parents. David Berg was married on Feb. 22, 1820, to Magdalena Newcomer, born in 1782, ard her parents also came froni Germany.
Thaddeus E. Frazer, who operates the Adam II. Bartel Con- pany's establishment at Cambridge City, manufacturers of Perfec- tion overalls, shirts, suits, pants, duck coats, et ., was born near Greenup, Ill., west of Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 13, 1860. His father was Paul and his mother was Irena (Coggshall) Frazer. The father, a son of Alexander Frazer (see sketch of George Frazer for ancestral history), was born in Pennsylvania, was a farmer by oc- cupation, and had lived in Wayne county for some years prior to his removal to Illinois, where his death occurred about 1881. The mother died Oct. 21, 1911, at Cambridge City, Ind. They were the parents of three children, of whom Ellen and Emma are de- ceased and Thaddeus E. is the sole survivor. He is the last born of the children ; his early education was obtained at Williamsburg, and this was further supplemented by a course in the Indiana State Normal. Ilis first work in life was school teaching, and this pro- fession was followed for two years at Williamsburg. After that period he entered the drygoods store of Edwards & Lewis, at Wil- liamsburg, later with W. A. Clems, at Fountain City, remaining six years with each of these firms. He came to Cambridge City in 1902, and on July 18 of that year organized the Adam Il. Bartel Manufacturing Company's plant, of which he has since been the manager. Of this company, A. H. Bartel is the president, John M. Coate vice-president, Fred J. Bartel treasurer, Ida E. Bartel, secre- tary, and T. E. Frazer, manager, while the board of directors in- clude in addition the names of Benjamin G. Bartel and F. W. Fled- derjohn. The factory has about 5,000 square feet of floor space and at the start gave employment to about thirty-five people, but now from sixty to seventy-five people are regularly employed. Eight traveling salesmen are on the road and the products of the
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