USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 67
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
George E. Bell, the subject of this sketch, received what might be termed a fair country school education-a man of his natural turn might have attained to a fair education without the aid of the country pettifogger, who pretends to form minds. His mind, at this day- what it may have been in his youth, we do not know-is broad, com- prehensive, capable of grasping any subject. He is a great reader of the literature of the day, and digests it, as few men can. However, we are a getting away from the object in view. His life alternated- sometimes he lived in the City of Baltimore, sometimes out in the county, but, all the time, improving his limited opportunities. By nature and choice, he favored the life of a carpenter, and, to accom- plish this purpose, gave himself studiously to the work before him. By the aid of a clear, quick, mathematical head, a keen eye and an earnest desire to learn, he soon mastered and has stood in the front rank of woodworkers since. On the twenty-sixth day of June, 1848, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Shipley, of Baltimore County, and by that marriage, seven children have been born unto them, to-wit : Mary, Frank, Annie, Rosa, Joseph, William and Walter, all now living except Frank.
A few years after his marriage Mr. Bell was engaged at work in a car shop, and, while operating a circular saw, was struck by a flying piece of timber and killed for the time being. He recovered con- sciousness some time after, but was unable, for several days, to resume his work again. In the winter of 1853 or '54, he went to York County, Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming for the period of one year. At the end of that time he gave up his farm and returned to Marylan 1, where he worked on a farm for five years. During that time he made two trips West to Richmond, Indiana, working at his trade there one entire winter. In the fall of 1862, while in Maryland, he was drafted into the army. Not h ...: g a military turn, and certainly no disposition to kill or be killed, he left the State and immigrated to Indiana, locating at Princeton. He worked at that place during the winter, and from thence went to Evansville, where he was appointed foreman in building United States hospitals. In August, 1863, he came to Henderson and remained until August, 1864, when he again returned to Indiana, locating at Fort Branch, where he remained until 1865. He then returned to Henderson and has lived here since, enjoying his share of contracting and building.
At the age of nineteen, Mr. Bell connected himself with the Methodist Church, and has ever been consistent and devoted to its tenets. At this time he is Superintendent of the Sunday School. He
44
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY,
joined Friendship Lodge, I. O. O. F., Baltimore, 1847, and has had his membership transferred to the Lodge at this place. He has three married children : Annie, married Robert Brashear, now living in St. Louis, has four children, George, Lizzie, Luther and Harry ; Rosa married George McMullin and has two living children, Walter and Benjamin ; William recently married Miss Ida Quinn.
Mr. Bell, in addition to his city interests, owns two hundred acres of valuable farming lands in that section of the county known as Frog Island.
EDWARD MANION was born in the City of New Albany, on the second day of September, 1850. His father, James Manion, was born in County Longford, Ireland, in the year 1810. His mother, Katharine Nowland, was born in the same country and county in the year 1822. The father and mother were married in Ireland in 1834, and a short time after the father sailed alone for America, landing at the Port of New Orleans. A short time after his arrival in this coun- try he shipped as mate on one of the Mississippi and Ohio River steamers, plying between New Orleans and Louisville. He then sent a message to his wife to come to America, which she did soon after, landing at the port of New York. Mr. Manion met her and returned to New Orleans, where he made his home for two years or more, when he transferred his residence to Louisville. Soon after his arrival at Louisville he engaged as superintending boss of a large pork house, and continued in this capacity up to the year 1848, when he removed to New Albany, Indiana, and engaged in railroad contracting. He built the road bed of the New Albany and Salem Railroad, besides doing other heavy contract work. In April, 1851, Mrs. Manion died, leaving him with quite a family of young children to care for, our sub- ject being one of the number. Life became a burden to him; the love he bore his little ones and their well being, preyed upon his mind, until he determined to marry, provided he could find one in his opin- ion suited for wife and mother. He was not long in finding a lady . whom he looked upon as one in every way fitted to fill the specifica- tions. He woed and won, and in September, 1851 was united in marriage to Miss Mary Shearn, at her home in New Albany. Six months after, Mr. Manion, with his family, removed to Cannelton, Indiana, and there opened a grocery store. He remained there but a short time, when he removed to Cloverport and engaged in the grocery business and hotel keeping. Fortune smiled upon him and he continued to do business there till the fall of 1858, when he removed with his family to Henderson. About the time of his arrival here
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there was a large amount of street improvement, grading, graveling, guttering and curbing advertised to be let at contract. Mr. Manion, aided by past experience, became a formidable and successful bidder, and was awarded a large amount of street work, which he completed, and for which he was well and sufficiently paid. He built and suc- cessfully conducted the two-story hotel on the southwest corner of Elm and First Street, the building in which his son, the subject of this sketch, is now a half owner and carrying on a grocery business. Mr. Manion was a successful farmer, and, altogether, a thrifty money mak- ing man.
Edward Manion, the subject of this sketch, was educated from private schools taught in Henderson. Arriving at his majority he en- gaged soon thereafter in the grocery business, and has followed that occupation to this day. On the sixteenth of June, 1880, he married Miss Eliza Carroll, and three children have been born to them-James and Katie born twins, and Mary and Dora. Katie died in infancy. In poli- tics Mr Manion has always been known as a Democrat, in religion Catholic born and raised. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and a devoted lover of Old Ireland and her people. He is now serving his third term of two years as a member of the City Council, having each time been elected over a strong opposition. His interest, manifested by the display of energy and sound judgment upon all matters appertaining to the city's weal, has made him popular in his ward, and, therefore, likely to retain him in the city's service so long as he chooses to divide his time with his own personal affairs and that of the public.
KONRAD GEIBEL. - Konrad Geibel, the parental head of the family of whom this sketch relates, was born in Wachenheim, Bavaria, on the eighth day of September, 1815. His father, Peter Geibel, with whom he lived until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, was a shoemaker by education and profession, and under his guidance, our subject, at the age of fourteen years, became one of the most expert workmen in his native town. Under the rules of that country social, if not governmental, every child was required to attend Sabbath School up to his or her eighteenth year, and at the age of fourteen to be examined in church studies,and, if upon examination, the child was found proficient, he or she was then taken to the church for confirma- tion and given the first Sacrament. It was made the duty for every one to attend church service in the forenoon, and of all children to attend Sunday School in the afternoon. The services and mode of teaching was the same as that adopted by the Presbyterian Church of
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this country. Mr. Geibel went through all of the required forms and graduated in the church with credit to himself. In the year 1838, he married Miss Annie M. Keller, of his native place, and with her and his eldest son, Konrad, who was born in Bavaria, he set sail for America in the year 1840. The family embarked in a two-masted ves- sel at Havre, and was thirty-two days to the day upon the ocean, when the vessel landed at the port of New York. His object was to join some friends then living in the neighborhood of Evansville, Ind., and, after having recruited fully from his sea voyage, he started on his Westward journey, going by canal boat from New York to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland, thence by canal to Portsmouth, Ohio, on the Ohio River, and thence by steamboat to Evansville, landing there in precisely thirty-two days after leaving New York, and the identical number spent in crossing the ocean.
Mr. Geibel remained in Evansville only fourteen days, owing to the low price of wages, and it is not necessary to say that he was home- sick and disappointed. About that time he hired to come to Hender- son, and he did so, entering the shoeshop of John Boller, then estab- lished in a miserable old log shanty on the southeast corner of Main and Second Streets. This house was known as the old Henderson Bank, and in the garret was a box or two filled with old and worthless bank notes. The building was twenty-five or thirty feet long, with a clabboard rooi. At that time Evansville was a larger place than Hen- derson, but better inducements were offered mechanics here. Upon the arrival of our subject at Henderson great difficulty was exper- ienced in getting a house in which to shelter his family. Governor Dixon at the time occupied two rooms in the brick on Main Street, recently torn down by Mann Brothers; the front room he used for his office, the rear room for consultation. He had taken quite a fancy to the newcomer, and, in the goodness of his heart, offered him the use of the rear room until better provision could be made. This kind offer was accepted, and into this room the little family lived for some time afterward.
In the year 1841, our subject formed a co-partnership with John Delker, under the firm name of Delker & Geibel, and purchased the stock of John Burke, then carrying on the shoemaking trade in a little frame building that stood near where the Planters' Bank is now sit- uated. This firm was one year in business, and paid five dollars for the rent of the house. At the end of this time Mr. Geibel embarked in the shoemaking business on his own account, and, by energy, in- dustry and honest effort, soon built up a large and paying trade. He
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
was very popular with all classes, particularly. those persons best able to pay him well for his work. So well did he keep his promises, so honest was he in all his dealings, that this large patronage stood by him up to the time his health failed, and he was forced to quit work. Economy and prudent management brought him a handsome compe- tency to comfort him and his faithful life partner in their old age. They have living five boys, Konrad, George, Peter, John W. and Frederick, all remarkable for their native intellect and fine business character. Mr. Geibel has ever lived one of Henderson's best and most enterpris- ing citizens, and the writer is proud to say that no man to-day enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community to a greater degree than does he
JOHN W. GEIBEL was born in the Town of Henderson on the sixteenth day of June, 1853. He was educated from the private schools of the town, and at the age of fifteen, August, 1868, entered the drug store of W. S. Johnson & Bro. as a clerk. Here he remained, apply- ing himself with an assiduity and intelligence that soon won for him the unqualified confidence of his employers, until the winter of 1874 and '75, when he went to Philadelphia and entered Philadelphia Col lege of Pharmacy. He remained in this college during the term of 1875, and then returned to Henderson. A short time after his return home, he accepted a position in the drug house of Hon. T. C. Brid- well, at Evansville, Ind. A few months thereafter he went to St. Louis, and formed a co-partnership with Dr. King, of Madisonville, Ky., and opened a drug store. For reasons best known to himself, one month after the organization of the firm, he sold out his interest to his partner, and accepted a clerkship in the drug house of Ed. N. Harris, St. Louis, where he remained seven months. At the end of that time he returned to Henderson, and a few weeks afterwards ac- cepted a position with Dr. Kinkead, at Paducah, Kentucky. He remained with Dr. Kinkead just one month and a half, and then re- turned again to his home in Henderson. A short time after this return, he re-entered the employ of W. S. Johnson & Bro., where he remained up to June, 1884, when a co-partnership was formed between himself and Charles F. Kleiderer, an experienced druggist, under the firm name of Kleiderer & Geibel. This firm immediately opened the elegant " Post Office " Drug Store, on Second Street, in Odd Fellow's building. These young men were complimented by a large patronage from the first day their doors were opened to the public, but so steadily, and surely did it increase, that in August, 1886, in order to amplify the influence and patronage of the firm, a lot was purchased
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on the corner of Green and Center Streets, opposite the public school, and a very handsome two-story brick store house erected thereon. This new house is, perhaps, the handsomest in its interior finish to be found in Henderson. The subject of this sketch has charge of the new store while his partner holds the reins over the parent stem, or Second Street store. Mr. Geibel is the owner of several nice tene- ment houses in addition to his drug store property, and is continually adding to his already well earned little fortune. His life is a living example of what can be accomplished by regular habits, prudent liv- ing, assiduous work and thoughtful judgment. He is on the high road to prosperity undisputed, and none deserves it more than he. It is not luck with him, but the outcome of good, sound, native and acquired sense.
NING MITCHUSON .- The subject of this sketch is one of those peculiarly good, big-hearted men whom all men respect, and who, in return, lets his light so shine, that he is universally beliked by all with whom he is acquainted. If the writer may be permitted to advance a remark, without being accused of soothing, by praise, he will say that there cannot, perhaps, be found in this land a man em- bodying more of the characteristics of a philosopher. He is, to a great degree, a student of moral and intellectual science, and certainly no man takes the trials incident to life more calmly than does he. Well, to make, what could be made with truth, a long story come within the scope of a biographical work of this magnitude, we will say that Mr. Mitchuson, whose name appears at the head of this article, is a son of Col. James F. Mitchuson and Elizabeth Young, native Kentuckians. His grandfather Mitchuson fought with other gallant Kentuckians at the battle of New Orleans, and was one among the distinguished. Our subject was born at Princeton, Kentucky, on the twenty-ninth day of August, 1832, and was educated at Cumberland College. In 1861 he married Miss Maria A. Rudy, at her home in Lyon County, Kentucky. Mrs. Mitchuson is a daughter of Wm. Rudy, an early citizen of Henderson, and a granddaughter of James Alves, one of the earliest comers here, and great-granddaughter of Walter Alves, one of the partners in the Henderson grant. Her birthright dates back to 1797 and no better stock is to be found in Kentucky. These two good people have had born unto them four children, Charles, Mary Alves, Bessie and Maggie Rudy, all living. There is a no more happy home sunshine around the hearth at all seasons. Mr. Mitchuson followed farming in Caldwell County, after arriving at his majority, up to the year 1862, when he came to Henderson. Since his life here, he has
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followed farming, occasionally indulging in a harmless speculation that could in no wise cripple, even though it resulted contrary to his wish. He has never held an office and was never a candidate for one, though, upon. a number of occasions, he has been an active participant in the interest of his friends. He is a loyal Democrat. Many years ago he was baptised in the Baptist faith and connected himself with the " Blue Spring " Church, of Caldwell County. Since his residence in this county, latterly, at least, he has shown himself more of a latitudinarian than one wedded to any one religious sect. He is liberal in his church views and gives, as he has often said, "every man a chance for his white alley."
CHARLES MITCHUSON, the eldest child of Ning Mitchuson and Maria A. Rudy, was born at Princeton, Kentucky, on the twenty-sev- enth day of May, 1863. He received a liberal education, and has ever been highly esteemed for his social qualities. On the twenty-fourth day of November, 1886, he married Miss Laura Barnett, of Hender- son, a niece of the late Esquire John E. McCallister, and a young lady combining all of the graces of gentle womanhood necessary to make her husband's home and life all that this poor world can give. They are happily mated, and the writer hopes that their lives may be uninterrupted by a single jar. Mr. Mitchuson, a year or more ago, embarked in the merchant tailoring business, and is to-day at the head of one of the largest establishments, carrying a well assorted and various stock of goods in his line. Life shines brightly before him and may he realize it.
FREDERICK KLEIDERER was born in Alsace, a German District, which was reunited to that country in 1871, after two cen- turies' possession by France. His birth occurred on the eleventh day of September, 1835, at Woerth, on the Sauer, the place where General McMahon fought his great battle of the Franco-Prussian War, August 6th, 1870, and, at an early age, was sent to the public schools, where he was instructed in both the German and French languages. His father, Frederick Kleiderer, is living and enjoying fine health. His mother's maiden name was Salome Dobbleman. She departed this life Febru- ary, 1885, just five months after our subject had crossed the deep blue sea from a visit to her. Mr. Kleiderer's paternal ancestors were Swiss ; his maternal ancestors were natives of Wurtemberg. The father of our subject served seven years in the French army as a member of the Thirty-eighth Infantry, during the reign of Charles X. and Louis Phillipe. In October, 1853, Mr. K. came to America, and in August, the following year, moved out West and settled in the town of Caseyville, Union County, and there opened a merchant tailoring establishment.
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Mr. Kleiderer was in the tailoring business but a short time when he accepted a position as Superintendent of a wharfboat at Weston, Kentucky, in the employ of Captain Richard Foard. He remained at Weston until 1855, when he returned to Caseyville and again em- barked in the tailoring trade. On the eleventh day of July, 1856, he married, in Henderson, Miss Louisa Geibel, sister of Konrad Geibel, a highly esteemed citizen, and returned to Caseyville. They have had six children, five of whom are living, Charles F., Louis Phillipe, Kon- rad, William S., and Phillipe. The eldest child, Louisa, died, when two and a half years of age, at Caseyville.
During the year 1864, Mr. Kleiderer, with his family, removed to Henderson and has since resided here. In September, 1862, during the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, Captain Hillman's Company, Colonel J. M. Schackelford's Regiment, but, owing to an overplus of volunteers, the company was disbanded. In January, 1864, our subject was elected and commissioned Captain of Company A, Second Battalion, One Hundred and Third Regiment, Kentucky Militia, by Governor Thomas E. Bramlett.
Since the war, and up to a year ago, he has successfully carried on the merchant tailoring trade and has enjoyed a lucrative patron- age. He has served the city in a number of official capacities, in no single instance falling short of the confidence imposed in him by his people. Two terms, of nearly five years, he served as Councilman, and, during that time, was a recognized leader. This was owing to his high sense of honor, his excellent judgment and his far seeing intelligence upon all matters of public moment. Five years ago, he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Water Com- missioners, and is serving in that capacity at this writing.
Mr. Kleiderer was raised and educated in the Evangelical Lu- theran Church faith and possesses an intelligent understanding of the doctrine as is taught by his church. He is a member of Stranger's Rest Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 13, and has been seated and presided in all of the chairs.
He is also a member of the Grand Lodge and was made District Deputy for Henderson County by the Grand Master in 1870. Mr. Kleiderer is an enthusiastic member of the order and has done a great deal of work in its interest. He has ever been a warm friend of the Fire Department of the city, and one time was one of its most active members. All in all, the subject of this sketch has proven himself a valuable citizen-certainly, in all truth and sincerity, it can be said of him and his good wife, that they are the parents of five of the most
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promising, energetic and high toned young men that are to be found in all this broad land of ours.
MILTON YOUNG .- There is no name associated with the his- tory of Henderson County, so remarkable in all of its fortunate sur- roundings, as that of Milton Young. The eventful life of this young man has been marked by a success unparalleled in the history of most counties of the country, and has been frequently attributed to what is commonly denominated luck ; this opinion, however, arises from a want of knowledge of the man. His "luck," as it is called, was the outcropping of a splendid mind, evenly balanced in the art of money making, and remarkably strong in cogent powers, necessary to direct and govern a most successful business life. Governed by the highest principles of social and business order, modest and unassuming, even in the zenith of his successes, non-communicative in matters important to himself, strictly temperate and sober in all of the phases of life, liberal and accommodating in friendship,and a brother in fact and deed, he has thus won for himself in the race for life a name, national in itself, a name as honorable as it is national. Milton Young was born in Union County, Ky., on the first day of January, 1851, and is the fifth sou of Judge Milton Young and Maria Thompson. Judge Young moved to Henderson when the subject of this sketch was eight years of age. His school days were spent here, and by close application to his studies. under the guidance of two or more competent teachers, he qualified himself for life's journey.
In 1867, when only sixteen years of age, he borrowed the neces- sary amount to enable him to open a very small tobacco and cigar store, in an eight by six foot store room, adjoining the old drug house of George Lyne, on Main Street. To this business the young man applied himself, and soon gained a lucrative trade. In October, 1869 two years after, he sold his stock and went to Hopkinsville, where h engaged in the same business, in an old building on Main Street, ad- joining what was then known as the Ford House. During this time, he was appointed on the Hopkinsville police force, and served in that capacity to the time of a difficulty between himself and the Marshal, some six months after. An unpleasantness had existed for some time between him and A. M. Laub, City Marshal, which finally resulted in a shooting scrape, wherein Mr. Young was shot twice Laub and his friend, Ed. Gerhart, met Young in front of the Court House door about nine o'clock on the morning of August, 1869, and thereupon renewed the old fued. In the melee pistols were fired by both par ties, and the wonder is that the gallant policeman lived to tell the
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story of the rencounter. The determination of Laub and Gerhart was evidently to take his life, but a kind providence and a bold and fear- less spirit manifested on the part of Mr. Young, protected him from a literally mangling of flesh and bones. He received, however, two shots, one in the abdomen and one under the shoulder blade, passing under the skin, and coming out at the neck. Both parties fired on him. From the effect of these wounds he was confined to his room about six weeks. About a year afterwards he returned to Henderson, and again embarked in the tobacco and cigar trade, in an old frame building on Main Street, where now stands a handsome row of bricks, built for retail stores. By economy, he had saved enough to enable him to purchase the three little old frames then standing, one of which he occupied himself. He continued in business one and one-half years and then sold out. For some months after this, he amused himself in a leisure way, spending, perhaps, the most of his time on the Richland farm with his sister, Mrs. Buckman. In January, 1876, he organized the firm of Norris & Young, and opened a large hardware and agricultural house on Main Street, between Second and Third. While Mr. Young exercised a supervisory care over the business of the firm, Mr. Norris was yet the active partner, and was intrusted with the management and conduct of the business. During this partner ship Mr. Young purchased at Nashville two race horses, Old Joe Rhodes and Duncan F. Kenner ; this was in the fall of 1878. In the spring of '79 he commenced his turf life at Louisville, and at this meeting won two races with Joe Rhodes. Kenner started once, was defeated and afterwards sold. Joe Rhodes was taken to the St. Louis meeting following, and was there sold. In this spring he purchased of General Harding, of " Belle Meade " Nashville, Boot Jack, one year old; Manitou, one year old, and Boswell, two years old. In the month of May, he purchased of J. J. Merrill, Louisville, Bancroft, a two year old. In the fall, he purchased of Douglas & Co. Beatitude, a three year old. The aggregate cost of the five racers amounted to $2,455. These horses were brought to Henderson and wintered, and in the spring of 1880 shipped to Louisville. This spring his stable, consist- ing of the above named horses, made its debut at Nashville, running Bancroft, Beatitude and Boot Jack, and all winning. From Nashville, the stable was taken to Louisville, where Beatitude alone won. From Louisville the stable was taken to St. Louis, and here all three won. Beatitude won three races, Bancroft won the Missouri Derby, and Boot Jack won his race. From St. Louis to Chicago, here, Bancroft won three stakes and Beatitude three purse races, one of which was
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