USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume I > Part 34
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since which time he has been on the retired list. Mr. Koch has always taken a deep interest in public affairs, and has been active in political campaigns. From 1868 to 1872 he held the office of justice of the peace. In 1892 he was a candidate on the Republican ticket for the office of county commissioner, but was defeated. At the Republican convention held on April 7, 1904, he was nominated for commissioner for the Third district of Vanderburg county, receiving his nomination on the second ballot. He is one of the charter mem bers of Farragut Post, No. 27, Grand Army of the Republic, is a member of the Old Soldiers' Republican club, and belongs to St. John's church, with the other members of his family. Mr. Koch was married in September, 1867, to Miss Katharine Klein, and they have the following children: John A., a bricklayer and contractor; Philip, also a bricklayer; Jacob, a bookkeeper; Garfield, a plumber; Elizabeth, wife of John Kronshagen, a bricklayer; Emma, wife of Charles Waterman, a farmer of Vanderburg county; and Helen, a trained nurse in Louisville, Ky.
BEN S. ROSE, M.D., a well known and successful physician, of Evansville, Ind., was born near that city, in Vanderburg county, in the year 1869. He is a grandson of Rev. Benoni Stinson, whose power as a minister and orator will be remembered by all of the older citizens, far and near, and a son of Conrad and Octavia (Stinson) Rose, the father being of the successful agriculturists of Vanderburg county. Dr. Rose obtained his elementary education in the public schools. When he was twenty- two years of age he entered the Ohio Medi- cal college, at Cincinnati, and for two years was a student in that institu- tion, afterward graduating with high honors from the Louisville Medi- cal college in 1894. For eleven years he has practiced his profession with unvarying success in Evansville. That success is due to the fact that he is fully abreast of his profession, keeping well informed as to new methods of treatment, etc., to his untiring industry, and to his sym- pathetic nature and the ease with which he makes friends and wins the confidence of his patients. He is one of those physicians who understand the true character of the Hippocratic oath, and never turns a deaf ear to the appeals of the afflicted. As a member of the Indiana State
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Medical association and the local med.cal society he enjoys the full confidence and respect of his brother physicians, and occupies an honor- able place among them. He is a member of the staff of the Dea- coness' hospital, lecturer to the training school for nurses and surgeon for the various liability insurance companies doing business in the city. Dr. Rose is one of the progressive men of the city outside of his profession. He is a member of the Evansville Business Men's associa- tion, where he is always to be found advocating those measures that will redound to the material interests of the city. In fraternal circles he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and few members of that society enjoy a greater degree of popularity at the lodge and social meetings. Politically he is an unswerving Repub- lican, but seldom takes an active interest in political contests. He was married in 1898 to Miss Helen M. Hewson, and their home is the social center of a large circle of friends.
W. FRANK LITTLE, president of the United Typewriter Company, of Evans- ville, Ind., is a native of White county, Ill., where his father, G. R. Little, has for many years been one of the well-known and influential citizens. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools, graduating from the Carmi, Ill., high school in 1894. Before he had at- tained his majority he took a position as traveling salesman for the United Type- writer and Supply Company, of New York, working for two years out of the St. Louis office and then one year out of Chicago. He was then for about two years with the Smith Premier Typewriter Company, in charge of their office at Peoria, Ill., after which he came to Evansville, where he was associated for a year with the Remington Typewriter Company. In October, 1901, the present company was incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,000, for the purpose of handling all kinds of typewriters and supplies, and dealing in a general line of office furni- ture. The officers of the company at the present time are W. Frank Little, president ; J. J. Little, secretary and treasurer. The company employs a number of traveling salesmen, who cover a large territory in the states of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Although only a little over three years old, it is one of the substantial business concerns of
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the city. In addition to his interests in this company Mr. Little is an extensive operator in Evansville real estate. He has the additions of Jackson Park and Maple Grove, besides other desirable city prop- erty. He was married in January, 1901, to Miss Edna Damron, of Evansville. In fraternal circles he is well known and popular, being a Knight of Pythias, an Elk and a member of the Royal Arcanum.
LAURENCE B. BITZ, M.D.,- of Ev- ansville, Ind., is a native of Germany, hav- ing been born Dec. 6, 1839, in the village of Weisenheim, a berg in the county of Durkheim, Rhein Province of Bavaria. When he was about seven years of age his father, Simon Bitz, came to America, lo- cated in Warrick county, Ind., and there followed farming and shoemaking until his death, which occurred on April 23, 1857. Dr. Bitz grew to manhood in Warrick county, received his education in the pub- lic schools there, and followed farming un- til 1864, when he enlisted in Company G, Forty-fourth Indiana in- fantry, and served with the regiment in Tennessee and Georgia until mustered out in 1865. During his military service his health was im- paired by the hardships of a soldier's life, so that he soon gave up farming after the war and took up the study of medicine. In 1867 he entered the Miami Medical college of Cincinnati, and received the degree of M.D. from that institution in 1869. He first located at Blairsville, in Posey county, and there practiced for twenty-one years, building up a lucrative business. In 1890 he removed to Evansville and located at No. 816 Franklin street, where he has ever since practiced his profession. Dr. Bitz is a member of the State Medical association, the Vanderburg County Medical society, and has belonged to the American Medical association ever since 1878. He belongs to that nationality which has produced so many eminent physicians, and with the true German love for investigation he has never ceased to be a student of those things pertaining to his chosen calling. This has marked him as one of the progressive physicians of his time, and has been instrumental in bringing to him a large degree of success. On July 6, 1871, Dr. Bitz was united in marriage to Miss Mary Marvick, who was born Nov. 15, 1851, in the village of Wertel, Westphalia, Prussia, of Saxon parentage, but was reared in Paducah,
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Ky. Of the children born to this union six are living: Frederick C. is in business in Evansville; Laurence B., Jr., is attending school in St. Louis; Minnie R., Julia F., Mary K., and Cornelius Anton are at home.
ELI D. MILLER, president of the Eli D. Miller & Co. furniture factory, of Evansville, Ind., was born in that city, in the year 1866, and is a son of Edward Mil- ler, a native of Illinois. Eli received his education in the schools at Mt. Carmel, Ill., and there commenced at the age of nine years to learn the trade of cabinet maker. From that time until he was twenty-one he worked at this occupation, except what little time he was in school, receiving only his board and clothes for his labor. He profited in another way, however, for he acquired a knowledge of the manufacture of furni- ture which few men excel. In 1890 he came to Evansville, where he continued to work at his trade until August, 1894, when he opened a retail furniture store at 1500 Main street. He commenced this busi- ness without a dollar, but by strict attention to business and square dealing he has built up a fine trade. In April, 1901, upon the incor- poration of the United States Furniture Company, Mr. Miller was elected secretary and manager. Some eighteen months later he sold out his interest in the concern and in March, 1903, began the manufacture of furniture in a modest way at 1705 Main street. In May following the business was incorporated with the following offi- cers: Eli D. Miller, president ; John Schwan, vice-president; George L. Miller. secretary: S. W. Powell, treasurer. These officers, with the addition of Louis A. Wallenberger, constitute the board of direct- ors. The capital stock was at first fixed at $15,000, but in February, 1904, this was increased to $35,000. Soon after the incorporation the factory at 1705 Main street was erected, as well as the one on Morgan avenue. The latter is a fine modern brick structure, with about 36,000 square feet of floor space. It was built and equipped with all its machinery in ten weeks, establishing a new record for such work. The company makes a specialty of folding beds, and already has a large and constantly growing trade. Mr. Miller still retains his retail business. He is an active Republican, a Knight
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Templar Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Buffalo, a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Travelers' Protective association, the Royal Arcanum, the Tribe of Ben Hur, and the Trinity Method- ist Episcopal church. In all these societies he is popular because of his many sterling qualities. He was married in 1899 to Miss Kate E., daughter of Frank Weil, a merchant tailor of Evansville.
JOHN A. KOCH, senior member of the firm of Koch & Griesbacher, con- tractors of all kinds of brickwork, Evans- ville, Ind., was born in that city in 1868, his parents being Andrew and Katharine (Klein) Koch. (See sketch of Andrew Koch elsewhere in this work.) He was educated in the common schools, and after leaving school served a five years' appren- ticeship at the bricklayers' trade with Wil- helm Meier. In 1891 he commenced con- tracting for himself, the first building he erected being the three-story brick build- ing at the corner of Third avenue and Penn street, now occupied by H. C. Koch & Sons, all the brickwork being done in five weeks. In 1893 he formed his present partnership with George Griesbacher, and since then they have erected many of the largest and most pre- tentious buildings about the city. Among them may be mentioned the large addition to the Evansville cotton mills; the new wing of the State insane asylum; the Palm Garden building, the second story of which was put up in eighteen hours; the Sunnyside flour mills; the George Misker building; the Vulcan plow works; the Hercules buggy company; the Lincoln cotton mills; the brickwork on the Louisville & Nashville railroad station; the mason work, sewers, etc., of the F. W. Cook brewing company; and a large number of fine residences. In addition to their work in the city several large contracts have been executed elsewhere, notably among them the large school building at Owensville, Gibson county. On the West Side they put up the Jacob Folz business block and Curry's drug store, and they erected nearly all the brick buildings in the suburban town of Howell. Mr. Koch has taken an active part in politics ever since he became a voter, giving freely of his time and money to further the interests of the Republican party. In 1891 he was married to Miss Barbara Dauble, a daughter of Christ Dauble, a well known carpenter of
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Evansville. To this marriage there have been born two children, Johnnie and Elfrida. Mr. Koch is a member of the Builders' Exchange and of the German Lutheran church.
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CHRIST KANSLER, president of the Mechanics' Planing Mill Company, and one of the leading contractors and build- ers of Evansville, Ind., was born in Ger- many in 1850. He received his education in the schools of his native land, and there learned the trade of carpenter. In 1870, when he was but twenty years of age, he came to this country, and soon after his arrival in the United States came to Ev- ansville. There he found ready employ- ment at his trade and worked at it as a journeyman until 1879, when he began contracting for himself on a small scale. The following year he formed a partnership with Jacob Bippus, which association lasted for eleven years. During that time they erected a large number of fine buildings in Evansville and vicinity, acquiring a reputation for hon- est workmanship of which any builder might be proud. It has been said that when Christ Kansler is the contractor the owner of the building does not need a supervising architect to see that the contract is carried out. No better recommendation of his integrity is needed than this simple statement. Mr. Kansler was married in 1873 to Miss Margaret Sniger, and his eldest son, Gus Kansler, is now associated with him in business, being the secretary and treasurer of the planing mill company, and a young man of fine business qualifications. Mr. Kansler is a splendid example of the thrift and industry of the Ger- man people. Coming to this country a little more than thirty years ago, with no capital but his trade and a willingness to work, he has by his energy and square dealing built up a magnificent business, and enjoys the full confidence and respect of the good people of Evansville.
ANTON KESSLER, the leading contractor and builder of Evans- ville, Ind., was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1864. Having com- pleted a thorough course both theoretically and practically in his adopted trade, stonemasonry, in the Fatherland, he came to America when about twenty years of age. This was in the year of 1888, and
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soon thereafter he came to Evansville. For the first year, he did not follow his trade, but worked at various occupations, at the end of which year he formed a co-partnership with his brother, Philip, carrying on a general contracting and masonry business under the firm name of Kessler Bros., and until the death of Mr. Philip Kessler in 1897 this partnership continued as originated. Since then Mr. Kessler has conducted the business alone, increasing his business and territory year by year. His connection with the erection of some of the largest and finest buildings in this city indicate the character of work done by him. Among them are the two fine churches, St. Anthony's and St. Boniface, the high school building, the manual training school and a number of other school buildings. The furni- ture factories of the various Karges company's plants, and also the factories of the Crescent and Evansville Furniture Companies, the children's public home, the Rathbone home, the St. Mary's hospital and a number of the largest and finest residences. Mr. Kessler is recognized as one of the most up-to-date builders, and by his care- fulness. in executing his work and his faithful adherence to contracts, he has acquired his well deserved reputation of fairness, honesty and punctuality. He was married in 1893 to Miss Carrie Fischer, of Evansville, and they have four children: Emma, Anton, Helena and Franz. He is a member of St. Anthony's church, and takes an interest in its charitable work.
WILLIAM T. VARNER, M.D., a prom- ising physician of Evansville, Ind., was born in Spencer county of that state in 1866. After the usual preliminary education of the American boy in the common schools he entered the Indiana State university, at Bloomington, and graduated with the de- gree of A.B. with the class of 1891. For the next two years he was county superin- tendent of schools in his native county, hav- ing previously taught in the public schools. Upon the expiration of his term as superin- tendent he entered Barnes' Medical college of St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from that institution with the degree of M.D. in 1896. In April of that year he located in Evansville, where he has been in constant practice ever since. By his close attention to his business, his high order of professional
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skill, and his genial personality he has established a lucrative practice and has won for himself a name among the leading physicians of the city. He is a member of the American, the Indiana State, and the Ohio Valley Medical associations, and of the Vanderburg County Medical society, and for the past four years has been one of the city physicians. Doctor Varner takes an active interest in public affairs, his voice and vote always being on the side of municipal progress and the general improvement of the public health and morals. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1890 he was married to Miss Frances Salm, daughter of Solomon Salm, of Troy, Ind., and occupies one of the coziest homes in the city of Evans- ville, where Mrs. Varner is popular in social circles.
THEO. E. RECHTIN, dealer in lum- ber and building materials, Evansville, Ind., was born and reared in that city, and received his education there. His father, John T. Rechtin, was a native of Germany, who came to Evansville in 1848, where he was identified with the sawmill and lumber interests until 1894, when he retired, living a quiet life until his death in 1902. Theo. E. Rechtin be- came associated with his father soon after leaving school, and has been inti- mately connected with the Evansville building trades ever since. In 1897 he bought out all the interests in the plant formerly conducted by his father, and now has the largest and best equipped building supply concern in the city, as well as one of the largest in the Lower Ohio Valley. His establishment is located on Lower Seventh street and occupies one-half of an entire square. Everything that goes into the construction of a building can be found there. Mr. Rechtin's trade extends to many of the surrounding towns and cities, and is constantly on the increase. Aside from his private business interests he is considered as one of the most progressive and public spirited men in Evansville, always ready to lend his aid to any enterprise for promoting the city's welfare. He was married in 1887 to Miss Catherine M. Tisserand, of Evansville, and they have one daughter, Lucy Adaline.
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ADAM H. SCHROEDER, president of the Schroeder Headlight Company, Evansville, Ind., was born in Germany in the year 1836. When he was about sev- enteen years of age he came to America, and for twelve years was engaged in iron work in Cincinnati. In 1866 he located in Evansville, where he became a maker of house fronts, his reputation as a skilled mechanic in this line soon bringing him ail the business he could attend to. In 1884 he took up the business of electro-plat- ADAM H. SCHROEDER. ing on a modest scale and continued in that line with success until 1893, when he organized the Schroeder Headlight Company for the manufacture of locomotive headlights, switch and signal lamps. The company was incorporated in 1899 with a capital stock of $10,000, with Mr. Schroeder as president and his son, Charles F., as secretary and treasurer. The goods turned out by this company have found favor with railroad men and the demand for the Schroeder lights is constantly increasing. In what- ever department of industry Mr. Schroeder has engaged he has been successful because of his native ability, his indomitable energy and his inherent honesty. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mary Wolke, also a native of Germany, and they have three children living : Charles F., Anna, and Lizzie, now Mrs. Rieger.
CHARLES F. SCHROEDER, the sec- retary and treasurer of the company, was born and reared in the city of Evansville. At the age of twelve years he became associated with his father in the plating business, and when the headlight com- pany was incorporated was made secre- tary and treasurer, which position he has held ever since. He is a fine representa- tive of the younger school of business men, with progressive ideas and believes in modern methods. In 1901 he was CHARLES F. SCHROEDER. married to Miss Louise, daughter of Henry Doench, of Evansville.
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MAJ. JOSEPH B. COX, a prominent citizen of Howell, Ind., is a native of Van- derburg county, having been born in Perry township in 1830, and has been a resident of the county all his life. His parents, Col. James and Frances M. (Miller) Cox, were among the pioneer settlers of South- western Indiana. The father came to Vanderburg county in 1818, where he fol- lowed farming and operated a wood yard, selling wood to the steamboats on the Ohio river near the Ingle coal mines. For some time he held the rank of colonel in the state militia. The maternal grandfather, George Miller, came from Kentucky in 1809 and settled where the city of Evansville now stands. As far as known he was the first white man to settle there, and it is very likely that his solitary log cabin was the first house in the city. Col. James Cox died in 1834 and his wife in 1886. She had been a resident of Perry Township for seventy-six years. They had a family of five children, of which Maj. Joseph B. Cox is the only survivor. He was educated in the common schools of his native county ; attended the Cincinnati high school; passed one term in St. Xavier's college of Cincinnati, and graduated from Bacon's Business college in 1849. Upon leaving school he engaged as second clerk on a steamboat running between Cincinnati and New Orleans. He was soon promoted to the position of head clerk and for the next eight years followed the river. He was then elected township trustee of Perry Township, and served one year as a member of the board when there were three trustees, and was the first trustee of the township under the law changing from three trustees to one. After serving one year as trustee he went into the sheriff's office as deputy and served there for two years, or until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he raised a company which was afterward mustered into the service as Company F, Sixtieth Indiana infantry. He was elected captain of the company at the time the regiment was organized and a few months later was made major. For a time his regiment was sta- tioned at Indianapolis, guarding Confederate prisoners, and was then sent to Kentucky, where it participated in the campaign. After thir- teen months of service Major Cox resigned on account of his health and returned to Evansville, where for the next two and a half years he was chief deputy in the county treasurer's office. He was then
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deputy sheriff for six years, and during President Cleveland's first administration he held the position of surveyor of customs for the port of Evansville, serving in that capacity for four years and one month. Since that time he has been engaged in looking after his large farming interests and in real estate operations. ยท As president of the Howell Land Company he superintended the laying out of the town of Howell, and has been identified with its growth ever since it started. Major Cox is also a director in the Evansville, Suburban & Newburg railroad, and a stockholder in the City National and West Side banks of Evansville and the Fair Ground association. His connection with these institutions marks him as a man of enter- prise and public spirit. Major Cox has been twice married. In 1863 he was married to Miss Amanda W. Sirkle, who died in 1868, leaving one son, Dr. D. A. Cox, one of the leading physicians of Howell. In 1871 Major Cox was married to Miss Martha J. Angel, and to this union there have been born two sons: Robert M., a farmer of Union township, Vanderburg county, and Joseph B., a practicing physician of Posey county, Ind. Major Cox is a member of the General Baptist church of Howell and takes an interest in promot- ing its good works.
THOMAS RUSTON, a well known cit- izen of Evansville, Ind., was born in Cam- bridgeshire, England, in 1853. When he was seventeen years of age he came to America, and for a year worked on a farm in Warrick county, Ind. He then came to Evansville, where he was associated with W. J. Newitt in the floral business until 1873, when he went to St. Louis. There he followed the same line of work for two years, at the end of which time he went to Chicago, where he was for a year with a floral company, and then took charge of John Hanson's place at Rose Hill cemetery. He remained with Mr. Hanson about a year and then returned to Evansville, which city has, with the exception of a short time, ever since been his home. In May, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Graves, of Evansville, and for the next seven years was in charge of Dr. Walker's greenhouses. In 1884 he went to Chicago again, where he was for a short time with the floral establishment of
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