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 52
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M., born Dec. 6, 1872, married Ozro Blose, and they have two chil- dren-Nina Fae, born in 1898, and Rex E., born in 1901 ; and Bessie Ethel, born March 6, 1874, married Charles Woods, and they have two children-Marian, born Aug. 18, 1899, and Josephine, born Nov. 24, 1901.
Charles M. Thompson, a practical farmer of Center town- ship, was born in Wayne township, this county, Aug. 11, 1862. llis parents were William B. and Rheuhama (Duke) Thompson, the former born on the farm where his son resides, May 6, 1838, and the latter in Wayne township, Feb. 3, 1841, and they were married in 1860. The parternal grandfather was James Thompson, born Feb. 18, 1803, in New Jersey, and came to Wayne county, Indiana, when a young man. On March 24, 1824, he was married to Mary Vin- nage. He was an old-line Whig and a Quaker, always followed farming, and at one time owned the land where his grandson, Charles M. Thompson, resides, this land being a part of that en- tered by Patrick Moore and bequeathed by that gentleman to John Vinnage, the father of Mary Vinnage, who was born May 18, 1804, and died June 6, 1863. Her husband, James Thompson, died May 8, 1864. After his marriage, in 1860, William B. Thompson lived two years on a rented farm in Wayne township, where his first son, John, was born, July 16, 1861, and he died in infancy. The second son is the subject of this review. The third son, James, born July 11, 1865, is a farmer in Green township. He is married to Luella Bond and they have two children-Hazel and Cora. The fourth son, Edward B., born Aug. 28, 1867, is a teaming contractor in West Richmond. He married Viola Cutshaw and they have two children-Robert and Clara. The fifth child, Anna May, born July 20, 1870, married Albert Knollenberg and became the mother of a daughter, Alberta. Mr. Knollenberg died and his widow then became the wife of William Mclaughlin, a farmer of Webster township. The sixth child and fifth son, Joseph F., born Sept. 22, 1872, married Lizzie King and is a farmer in Webster township. The seventh child is a daughter, Rebecca Jane, born Feb. 28, 1874, wife of Alton Cox, of Richmond, and they have three children - Raymond, Myra, and William. The eighth child, Marian, born April 22, 1876, is the wife of Edward O. Mott, a machinist of Richmond, and they have one child, Kenneth. The ninth child and sixth son, William, born Aug. 23, 1877, died in infancy. After residing two years in Wayne township William B. Thompson re- moved to his father's farm in Center township and remained there until the death of his father, when he purchased a farm adjoining on the west, where he lived until his death, June 13, 1877. His widow continued to reside on this farm until 1892, when she re- moved to the city of Richmond and there her death occurred Jan. 28, 1894. Charles M. Thompson received his educational training in the district schools of Wayne and Center townships. From the time he was fourteen years old until the age of twenty-three he operated the home farm for his widowed mother. For two years thereafter he operated a rented farm in Center township and then for four years rented an adjoining farm. He was then employed in
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the Adam Bartlett overall factory, as cutter, twelve years, at the end of which period he came back to the old homestead, which he had purchased four years before, and his farm consists of sixty acres of fine tillable land. Mr. Thompson has made many improve- ments on his farm and employs modern means and methods in till- ing the soil. Through his own efforts, assisted in every possible way by his good wife, he has established a pleasant home for him- self and family and holds the esteem and respect of his neighbors. In the matter of politics Mr. Thompson is a stanch adherent of tlie Republican party. On Dec. 23, 1885, Mr. Thompson was happily married to Miss Mary Knollenberg, born in Richmond, Ang. 21, 1864, daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth ( Burke) Knollenberg. Of this union there was born a son, William Howard, Aug. 29, 1891, who resides at the parental home. The parents of Mrs. Thompson are given extended mention on another page of this volume.
Dempsey Carver Thornburgh, deceased, for many years one of Dalton township's prominent and useful citizens, was born June 20, 1840, son of Dempsey Thornburgh. flis birthplace was his father's farm in Dalton township, this county, and he was the fifth in order of birth in a family of twelve children. The paternal grandfather was Walter Thornburgh, who married Mary Baldwin, daughter of William and Elizabeth Baldwin, at New Garden, N. C., Oct. 11, 1786. Walter'Thomburgh was born Nov. 15, 1702, third child of Henry and Rachel ( Moon) Thornburgh, who were married at New Garden, N. C., in 1758, and there they spent their lives. Henry Thornburgh was the son of Walter Themburgh, of Guilford county, North Carolina, and of his marriage to Rachel Moon there were born eleven children-Henry, Charity, Elizabeth, William, Jacob, Dempsey, Jesse, John, Zemri, Walter, and Sarah. After his marriage in North Carolina, Walter Thornburgh, the grandfather of Dempsey C., removed to Tennessee, and after some time spent in that State came to Wayne county, settling just east of the present farm of Frank Thornburgh, in the northeast corner of Dalton town- ship. He entered land along West river and this possession finally passed into the hands of his sons. His first home consisted of 160 acres in the western part of Perry township, adjoining the present farms of Frank V. and George L. Thornburgh. To him and his good wife there were born five sons-William, Jesse, Dempsey, John, and Walter-and five daughters. He lived to the age of ninety years and his wife also died at an advanced age. Dempsey Thornburgh, father of Dempsey C., was a native of Tennessee, born near Knoxville, in 1801, and accompanied his parents to Wayne county, in 1819. From his father he secured a farm of 120 acres, where Frank V. Thornburgh resides, and spent his life there, clear- ing the land and adding to his landed possessions until he owned more than 300 acres in Wayne and Randolph counties, more than 200 acres being in his homestead. He married Jane Mills, born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, July 8, 1804, daughter of John and Mary Mills. She removed with her parents to Montgomery coun- ty, Ohio, in the year of her birth, and thence the family came to Wayne county in 1816, settling at first on Morgan's creek, three
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miles east of Economy. Three weeks later they removed to Dalton township, and there she was married to Dempsey Thornburgh, Dec. 22, 1822. She died at the old homestead, Sept. 24. 1880, at the time of her death one of the oldest residents in the county, and having eight children, forty-four grandchildren, and twenty-four great-grandchildren. To her and her husband were born twelve children : John died in infancy ; Walter, who is deceased, settled on Nettle creek, on the farm now owned by Job Dennis ; Seth mar- ried Mahala Bookout and resides in Henry county ; William K. is a farmer in Dalton township; Dempsey Carver is the fifth in order of birth ; Thomas Ellwood is deceased ; James Riley died in infancy ; Irena married Lindsey Dennis and they are both deceased ; Rachel married Wilson Dennis and they are both deceased ; Za- rilda Ann is deceased ; Mary Jane became the wife of Lewis Sprad- lin and is deceased; and Sarah Emeline is the wife of Thomas C. Dennis, of Richmond. Dempsey C. Thornburgh was reared in his native township and attended the public schools of Dalton and worked for his father several years as a young man. In 1862 he went to lowa and engaged in the drygoods business. but later disposed of his interests there and returned to Dalton, where he purchased 100 acres of the present farm of George 1 .. Thornburgh and later added to his possessions the present farms of Harry C. and Frank V. Thornburgh, the total acreage being 392. Mr. Thorn- burgh was a very quiet and unassuming man, strictly honest, and devoted his life to his business and the happiness of his family. In 1867 he married Ethelinda Williams, daughter of Jesse T. and Anna II. (Graves) Williams, of Center township, and of this union were born three sons-George L., Frank V., and Harry C .- all mentioned on other pages of this volume. The Thornburgh fam- ily is one of the oldest in Wayne county. Jesse T. Williams, father of Mrs. Thornburgh, was born in Guilford conmy, North Carolina, March 20, 1822, and came to Wayne county in 1823 with his parents-Richard and Sarah Williams-who settled in Center township. He married Anna I1. Graves, Ang. 5, 1845, and resided in Wayne county until 1867, when they removed to Minneapolis, Minu. The wife died there in 1886, and in 1888 the husband re- turned to Wayne county and resided with the family of his son- in-law, Dempsey C. Thornburgh. the remainder of his days, passing away Oct. 1, 1889. While a resident of Centerville he was elected and served as sheriff of Wayne county.
John William Veregge, a well-to-do and prominent farmer of Franklin township, was born in Richmond Sept. 14, 1855. His father is Henry Veregge, born in Germany in 1831, came to Amer- ica at the age of twelve years, and located in the city of Richmond. Ile became a carpenter by occupation and worked in the establish- ment of Gaar, Scott & Co., and also in Robinson's, but later fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until 1903, and then removed to Foun- tain City, where he now lives retired. Our subject's mother, Eliza ( Leive) Veregge, was born in Germany, in 1837, and died in \n- gust, 1907. In Richmond she met and became the wife of, Henry Veregge, and of this union seven children were born : Emma mar-
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ried James Hiatt; John W. is the second in order of birth ; and the others are Charles August, Ella, Frank, Louis Oliver, and one that died in infancy. John W. Veregge attended the public schools in Richmond until about twelve years old and then the Wessler dis- triet school in Franklin township. Ilis early work in life was on a farm, and that calling has engaged his attention to the present time, with the exception of about three years, when he worked in the lumber business in Richmond, with H. M. Roberts & Company. Ilis first farm work was with his father, then about six months he worked on a farm in Adams county, and then operated other farm land on shares. In 1886 a farm of 100 acres was purchased in Franklin township, and this tract is the home of Mr. Veregge at this time. In 1890 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Theo- dora Uhde, daughter of August and Minnie Sophia Uhde, of Rich- mond, where the latter died in 1905. Mrs. Veregge was born in Germany and came to America with her parents at the age of seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Veregge have two children-Carl Albert, a practical electrical engineer, born Jan. 13, 1891, and Richard Theo- dore, born April 6, 1899.
Daniel D. Ulrich, for many years a prominent farmer in Jef- ferson, first beheld the light of day on the old family homestead in the southwestern part of Dalton township, Aug. 7, 1836. Ilis fa- ther, Daniel Ulrich, was a native of the Keystone State, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, one of six children-Daniel, Eliza- beth, John, Jacob, David, and Christina-and came to Dayton, Ohio, in early manhood. Later he moved into Dalton township, Wayne county, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Catherine ( Clapper) Ulrich, was the second wife of Daniel Ulrich, and he was also her second husband. His first marriage was to Miss Holsinger, and of that union were born five children, all deceased: John married Mary Hoover and was a farmer and minister of the German Baptist church in Huntington county, Indiana; Samuel married Julia Da- vis and was a farmer in Huntington county; Christina married Jacob Funderburgh, a farmer and minister of the German Baptist church in Huntington county ; Susanna married Nelson Bennett, a farmer in Huntington county; and Catherine married Edward Raffe, a farmer in Wayne county. Of the first marriage of the mother, to a Mr. Hoover, were born three children, all of whom are deceased: Sarah married Christopher Heaston, a farmer in lowa; Catherine married John Hardman, a farmer in lowa, and Mary married John Ulrich, before mentioned. Thus it will be seen that the eldest son of Daniel Ulrich, by his first marriage, married the youngest daughter of Mrs. Ulrich, by her first marriage. Of the union of Daniel and Catherine (Clapper) Ulrich were born six children : David married Catherine Houser, who is deceased, and to them were born five children-Mary married Elza Hedrick and lives in Missouri, Lewis married first Olive Wyatt and second Clara Holder and is a farmer in the State of Washington, Edward married Flora Brown and resides near Hagerstown, Oliver mar- ried Ethel Lontz and is a farmer in the State of Washington, Frank
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married Louise Shultz and resides in Chicago, and the father re- sides with the two sons in the State of Washington; Martin, a re- tired farmer of Delaware county, Indiana, married Magdalene Wright, who is deceased, and of their union were born six children -- Daniel is a resident of the State of Washington, William married Clara Crull and is a farmer in Delaware county, Samuel married Retta Davis and is a farmer in Henry county, David married Hattie Crull and is a farmer in Delaware county, Sarah married Henry Hoover and resides in Henry county, and Rosanna married Frank Keys and resides in Delaware county ; Anna, deceased, mar- ried Alexander Ditch, a farmer in llenry county, and they had one daughter, Mary, who married George Sims and resides in Henry county ; Elizabeth became the second wife of Alexander Ditch and they have two children, Alonzo and Lulu; Rosanna is the wife of Peter Deardorff, a farmer in Dalton township, and they have seven children-Frank married Effie Hinshaw and is mayor of Mun- cie, William married Sarah Albin and is a farmer in Henry county, Pauline married William Leavel of Jefferson township, Amanda mar- ried Oliver Rowe of Hagerstown, Elizabeth married John Johnson and resides in Randolph county, Oliver married Nettie Marshall and is a physician in Hagerstown, and Charles resides in Indianapo- lis ; Daniel D. is the next in order of birth. The last named acquired his education in the district schools near the parental home and worked on his father's farm of 240 acres, near his present home, several years. After his marriage he worked the old homestead, in connection with his brother, David, until the early 'zos, when he rented a place in Dalton township for a period of three years. He then lived more than a year on the present William Williams farm, in Jefferson township, and in 1878 purchased sixty-four acres of his present place. Ile later added twenty-five acres to this tract, and there he resides, having always met with success as a follower of agricultural pursuits. His farm is pleasantly located on the west side of Nettle creek, about three and one-half miles northwest of Hagerstown, in the northwest corner of Jefferson township. The old homestead in Dalton township is owned by David Nicum, of Hagerstown. Politically, Mr. Ulrich is an ardent Democrat, and the Church of the Brethren is the denomination which conforms most fully with his religious belief. On Nov. 19, 1861, he was mar- ried to Rebecca Brunner, daughter of George W. and Henrietta (Dechant ) Brunner. Mrs. Ulrich was born at Miamisburg, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1839, and died at her home Aug. 12, 1909. At the age of seven years her father died, leaving a widow with a family of four sons, one daughter and a step-son. The mother being in straitened circumstances, Rebecca, at the tender age of seven years, was placed in a strange family, where she remained until eighteen years old, when she came to Millville, Ind., to reside with her brother, John Brunner. She remained with him only a few weeks, when she entered the family of Josiah Test, three miles northwest of Hlagers- town, where she lived until married. Of her nion with Mr. Ul- rich there were born nine children: Anna, born Sept. 2, 1862, mar- ried John Chamness, a farmer of Wayne county, by whom she had
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one child, Robert, born Nov. 26, 1897, and after her husband's death she married George W. McPherson, a farmer in Henry county ; Agnes, born Dec. 29, 1864, is the wife of Christopher Brosey, a farmer in Randolph county ; Ellen, born March 26, 1867, is the wife of Joseph Kerr, a farmer in Henry county, and they have two chil- dren-Esther, born July 14, 1902, and Taylor, born Sept. 18, 1904; Emma, born Oct. 23, 1869, is the wife of Nelson Main, of Anderson, Ind., and they have five children-May, born Aug. 7, 1885, Ruth, born Oct. 23, 1887, Sarah, born Sept. 11, 1897, Margaret, born Jan. 8, 1901, and Walter, born Oct. 29, 1903; Margaret, born July 10, 1872, died Sept. 4, 1910, the wife of George Dutro, a merchant at Modoc, Ind., and the mother of three children-Mary Elizabeth, born June 25, 1904, Fred, born Dec. 11, 1905, and Ruth Irene, born June 18, 1907; Fannie, born Dec. 7. 1874, died in infancy ; Stella, born July 19, 1877, died in infancy; Catherine, born Oct. 2, 1879, died in infancy ; and Josephine, born in September, 1883, resides at home with her father. Of the grandchildren of Mr. Ulrich, May Main is the wife of Obediah Biddle, of Anderson, Ind., and they have two children-Ralph, born Dec. 27, 1905, and Wanita, born Dec. 13, 1907 ; and Ruth Main is the wife of Charles Parkinson, and they have two children-Vivian, born in February, 1907, and Vera, born April 19, 1910. On the old Ulrich homestead, in the southwest corner of Dalton township, stands a large structure known as the "Ulrich Woolen Mills," built by Mr. Ulrich's father in 1854. Water power was used at first and later steam power was utilized. There, varns, blankets, etc., were manufactured many years, in fact, until about 1903. In his early life Mr. Ulrich worked in this mill, but in 1862 his father sold it to William Rufus and Josiah Test, and tintil 1903 it was operated by them. It is now used as an ice and slaughter house. Mr. Ulrich is genial and kindly, and well preserved for one so advanced in years.
Matthew John Von Pein, an efficient and popular councilman- at-large of the city of Richmond, has been a resident of Wayne county for nearly two-score years, and is one of the representative citizens and progressive mechanics of the city mentioned. His well appointed home is located on the South Side and out far enough away from the noise and dust of the city to make an ideal dwelling place, with a large yard, orchard, and garden spot, and all within a block of the street car line. He has been continuously incumbent of the office of councilman-at-large for more than five years, and this fact alone offers adequate voucher as to the confidence and es- teem in which he is held in the community. Matthew J. Von Pein was born at Emden, a fortified seaport town in the province of Han- over, Germany, Feb. 18, 1852, a son of John HI. and Etta ( Claassen) Von Pein, both natives of Germany. John H. Von Pein spent about sixteen years of his life as a sailor and as a ship-carpenter, at a time when those occupations were not conducted under the favora- ble conditions that obtain in this Twentieth century. Ilis life was one of consecutive industry, and such measure of success as came to him was the result of his own ability and efforts. His integrity was inviolable, and thus he merited and received the implicit con-
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fidence and esteem of his fellow men. He continued to reside in the Fatherland until 1856, when he came with his wife and son, whose name introduces this review, to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, N. Y., and settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the troublous days of the Civil war in that vicinity he served 100 days in the defense of the city, but did not become a regularly en- listed soldier. He continued to reside in Cincinnati until 1894, when he removed to Richmond, Ind., and there lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1902, and his wife passed away in. 1900. They became the parents of five sons: Matthew J .; Fred, who died in Richmond, in 1907; John, of Chicago, Ill. ; George, of Indian- apolis, Ind .; and Edward, of Dayton, Ohio. Thus it will be seen that the subject of this review is the first born and the oldest sur- viving member of the immediate family. Matthew J. Von Pem has reason to know and appreciate the dignity of honest toil and endeavor, for with the same he has been familiar from his boyhood days. Even as he has been the architect of his own fortunes as one of the world's workers, so has his educational training been largely one of self-discipline and experience. Ile attended the Cincinnati public schools, and through reading and association with men and affairs has become recognized as a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Upon leaving school he found ample demand upon his time and attention in connection with the work of the cabinet- maker's trade, in which he continued to be associated in Cincin nati until 1875. lle then took an important step, in that he re- moved to Richmond and became connected with the Starr Piano Company-or, what was then the Trayser Piano Company, later the Chase Company, and eventually the Starr Company-in Sep- tember of that year. Through all the intervening years he has been associated with this concern, and he has charge of what is called the Bellying Department. His advancement upon the up- grade of independence and definite prosperity has been gained by earnest and well directed effort, and he has so ordered his course as to command at all times the high regard of those with whom he has come in contact in the various relations of life. In politics Mr. Von Pein is a staunch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party -tand- - ponsor and has long been pommemm public allans of a local order. In the office which he occupies his course has been marked by conservatism, and yet by legitimately progressive ideas, so that he has aided ma- terially in conserving a wise administration of city affairs. The popular appreciation of his efforts is best attested by the fact of his re election to the position which he holds. He is a man of broad and liberal views and is tolerant in his judgment. In 182%, Mr. Von Pein was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Knau- ber, of Eaton, Ohio, and she died in Richmond in 1895, the mother of the following children: Fredericka, who resides at the parental home; John, assistant foreman with the Starr Piano Company ; and Fred and Elsie, who also reside at home. Mr. Von Pein's second marriage was to Miss Emma Kloecker, of Richmond, and of this union there have been born two children-Matthew and
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Julia. Mr. Von Pein is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, of Richmond, and fraternally has membership in Harriman Lodge, No. 199, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was the secretary of the South Side Improvement Association for a period of five years and is a passive member of the Maennerchor.
James Madison Voss left upon the civic and business annals of Center township a definite impress for good and long stood as one of the representative citizens of Wayne county, where his entire life was passed. He continued his residence in Center township until his death, which occurred Jan. 25, 1910, and his name is here held in lasting honor. James M. Voss was born at Salisbury, Wayne county, Indiana, May 17, 1835, a son of John Park and Elizabeth (Fair) Voss, natives of the Old North State, where they were reared to maturity and their marriage was solemnized, and they came to Indiana in an early day. John P. Voss was engaged in the hotel business at Salisbury for a short time, being one of the pioneer settlers of that locality, and later engaged in farming. Ile became the owner of a large tract of heavily timbered land, a portion of which he reclaimed and de- veloped into a duly productive farm. Ile and his wife continued to reside on the old homestead until their deaths, his wife passing away Feb. 22, 1860, and his death occurring Dec. 24, 1872. The father was born in North Carolina, May 12, 1806, and the mother in the same State, July 8, 1808. Of their nine children three are living: Robert, who served in an Indiana regiment in the Civil war, enlisting at Richmond, resides at Hartford City, Ind .; Michael is in the employ of the Hoosier Shops at Richmond, and Mary E. is the wife of De\Vitt Gilbert, a farmer, of London, Ohio. James M. Voss, the subject of this memoir, was reared amid the scenes and influences of the pioneer era. Ilis early education was secured at an old log school house in Center township, and while still a lad he began to assume his due quota of the work of the home farm. le resided with his parents until twenty-one years old and then worked for others, being for some time a handler of fine horses. In the spring of 1876 he moved to his farm of 108 acres in Center township; and with agricultural pursuits was thereafter identified during the remainder of his active career. In I911 his widow sold this farm and now resides at 47 South Eighteenth street, in the city of Richmond. He was a man who ever commanded popular confidence and esteem and his circle of friends was particularly wide. He was a Republican in his po- litical proclivities, was a communicant of the Universalist church, which he joined about 1876, as is also his widow, and he was a member of Woodward Lodge, No. 212, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, filling all the chairs in the local lodge. On April 13, 1873. Mr. Voss was united in marriage to Alice (Thompson) Porterfield, born in Eaton, Ohio, June 19, 1845, a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Auter) Thompson, honored citizens of that locality in Ohio, where the father was first a wheelwright by occupation and later a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son became the parents of twelve children, of whom four are liv-
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