Perry Township Biographies

Township Histories & Biographies

Perry Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Brant & Fuller. 1889

History — Biographies

Joseph H. Brandis, deceased, was a native of England, born in Birmingham, October 28, 1805. At Stratford at an early age he made his first entry into business, and engaged, grew and was strengthened to a considerable extent. Mr. Brandis came to this country from Stratford in the year 1840. He resided for short time in Evansville, and then removed to a farm in Perry Township, five miles west of the city, which was his home in all the succeeding years. He brought with him from England a wife and five children, of whom only one survives him, Mrs. Rosanna Cralley, of Mount Vernon, Ind. His wife died in 1849. In the summer of 1849 he made a voyage to England for the purpose of transacting business there. Mr. Brandis was married again March 14, 1855, to Mrs. Maria Felstead, a widow lady with three children, Anna, Mary and George, all of whom are living. She was born in 1831, in the parish of Blunlesham, England, the daughter of Thomas and wife. In 1832 her parents emigrated to America, coming directly to Evansville, near where she was raised. Her parents are now deceased, and are buried ten miles from the city. Her marriage with Joseph Felstead, a native of Chatteris, England, occurred September 26, 1849, and he died in June, 1854, aged thirty years. In 1872 Mr. Brandis started a bookstore on the corner of Second and Locust Streets, and in 1875 he purchased the bookstore of Dobell & Conyngton, then occupying part of the present First National bank building. By reason of his wide business relations and congenial and upright character, Mr. Brandis became generally esteemed, and through life was surrounded by a host of friends. After leading an active business life for several years, he retired to his quiet country home. Having acquired considerable taste for reading, he had several years before selected with extreme care a handsome library of instructive and useful books, where his leisure time was mostly spent in a way that was pleasant and owing to his keen talent and close application, the dry goods business, in which he profitable. After twenty-eight years of happy married life, Mr. Brandis and wife were separated by his death, which occurred May 8, 1883, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. His widow and seven children, viz.: Martha, Joseph H., Ellen, Sarah, William E., Thomas J. and Charles D., still survive him. Mrs. Brandis resides at the old homestead, which is pleasantly situated, and surrounded with all of life's comfort.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Pages 655-656

Herman Klamer, who resides just west of Evansville, in Perry Township, is a native of Germany, born September 25, 1836, son of John M. and Charlotte (Kleinsmidt) Klamer. At fifteen years of age he became employed in a brick yard, and thus continued in his native country until 1855, in June of which year he emigrated to America and came to the city of Evansville. In the spring of 1856 he became employed in a brick yard in the vicinity of Evansville. In 1859 he took a contract to manufacture a quantity of brick in Posey County, where he spent one season. During the summer of 1860, he was engaged at brick-making in Armstrong Township. From the fall of 1860, until the spring of 1864, his attention was given to his farm in Perry Township. In March, 1864, he removed to Evansville, and he has ever since resided either in the city or in its immediate vicinity. For some six or seven years after removing to town, Mr. Klamer conducted a brick yard. In the spring of 1872 he was appointed street commissioner, and served in that capacity three years. In 1875 he became a partner in the Bunker Hill Flouring Mills, to which his attention was given until 1884, when he sold out. Since 1884 he has owned and operated a large brick yard west of the city. On the 25th of November, 1860, Mr. Klamer was married to Mary Schloskey, a native of Germany, born August 6, 1840, the daughter of William and Christiana Schloskey, with whom she came to America in the spring of 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Klamer have had ten children: Matilda E., William M., Gustav H., Herman H., Clara, Selma, Vina, Oscar A., Ida (deceased), and Albert A. Mr. and Mrs. Klamer and all of their children are members of the Zion's Church. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and D.O.H. lodges. In 1884 he was elected trustee of Perry Township, and was re-elected in 1886, with an increased majority.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 656

Henry Kreipke, a prominent miller of Perry Township, was born February 16, 1854, son of Henry and Catherine Kreipke. He received a good common school and commercial college education. He began business in Evansville in the feed-store and commission trade, which he followed until 1883. He then entered the large flouring-mill, of which he is at present the half owner, which has become a leading industry, and one of the prominent mills of the country. There is a capital of $45,000 invested in the business; the capacity of the mill is 350 barrels a day, and there is $300,000 worth of product handled per year. They use the very latest roller process, and make the finest grade of flour, which is sold throughout the entire south, besides being in great demand at home. The establishment is a large four-story brick building, situated in the western suburbs of the city, and uses a ninety-horse steam power. Mr. Kreipke was married January 24, 1883, to Alice Ayers, and the result of this happy union has been two children, Charles Edwin and Pearl Carolins. He is a member of St. John's Church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is a man of rare ability in business, and has fine executive talent, which assure him prosperity. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the community, and all with whom he comes in contact through his extensive business.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Pages 656-657

William Poggemeier, a prominent farmer of Perry Township, is a native of Prussia, born October 10, 1825, son of Anst Poggemeier, and his wife Mary. He emigrated to this country in 1846, and was twenty-one years of age when he arrived. He came directly to Evansville and to German Township, where he resided for about four months. He found work as a carpenter, which trade he learned in Prussia, and he continued in this vocation for about five years, when he married and settled down on a farm, and has since devoted himself to agriculture. He bought the farm in Perry Township, which he still occupies, in 1849, and moved upon it in 1850. In March, 1850, Mr. Poggemeier was married to Louisa Reckfurst, daughter of Henry and Katherine Reckfurst, and they have had nine children: Mary, Caroline, Henry, William, Frederick, Wilhelmina, Mary, John and August, all of whom are deceased except Mary. Mr. Poggemeier is a republican, and his religious associations are with the Lutheran Church.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 657

Conrad Rose, a well-known farmer of Perry Township, was born in Germany, September 11, 1841, the son of Ludwig and Louisa Rose, who came to Evansville from the fatherland in about 1845. The father died in that city about four weeks after his arrival, when Conrad was but four years old. As a boy and youth he was able to attend school but six months, but by close application, soon was able to read and write the strange language to which he was so in auspiciously introduced. He chose the business of agriculture as his pursuit in life, and has devoted himself to it with the exception of three years spent valiantly on the field, during the war of the rebellion. He enlisted in July, 1862, in Company H, Sixty-Fifth Indiana Volunteer infantry, under Col. Foster, and was engaged with his command in the battles of Bean Station, Rockville, Franklin, Nashville, Blountsville, and many others, and through the entire campaign and march to the sea under Sherman. He was confined to the hospital for six or seven weeks, and has not fully recovered from the effect of that army illness to this day. He was mustered out at Greensburg, N.C., and discharged at Indianapolis, at the close of the war. He was married January 29, 1868, to Octavia Stinson, daughter of the distinguished General Baptist preacher and pioneer, whose family is known throughout southern Indiana, and whose distinguished career is treated of in another part of this volume. They have had four childen: Benoni S., Parthenia, Guy C, and Harry B., all living and at home but Guy, who departed this life February 9, 1876. Mr. Rose and his estimable lady are faithful members of the Baptist Church, and are leaders in their community. He is a member of the A.O.U.W. and G.A.R., and is in politics a staunch republican.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 657

John N. Steiner was born in Saxe-Coburg, Germany, in 1815, the son of Adam and Barbara Steiner. He emigrated to America in 1838, over half a century ago. He came directly to Cincinnati, where he spent ten years as a clerk in a restaurant. He then, in 1848, went to Perry Township, and in that year settled on the farm which he now occupies. Then the country was considerably a wilderness, and land was cheap. While in Ohio he had the opportunity to work on the first railroad built in that state, and he has seen Evansville grow from a village to a great city. He was married in 1847, to Margaret Roeder, daughter of Fred Roeder, of German Township, and they have had eight children, all of whom are living: John, Fred, George, Charles, Andrew, William, Lizzie and Christina. Mr. Steiner received a good education in his native language, and has also become versed in English. He is a republican, and a member of the Methodist Church. He has done well in life, having a good home upon a fine farm of 110 acres.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Pages 657-658

Washington Stinchfield, a prominent farmer of Perry Township, was born in Van-derburgh County, February 3, 1844, and is the son of Hiram Stinchfield, and Sarah A. McCreary, his wife. The mother was a native of Virginia. The father was born in this state also, the son of Daniel Stinchfield, who came from Maine, at a day when the country was very wild, and was one of the very earliest pioneers who began the work of making the paths straight for the future commonwealth. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Perry Township, receiving a good training. Hardly had he completed this stage of his life, when the rebellion broke out, and in August, 1862, when he was eighteen years old, Mr. Stinchfield enlisted in Company D, Ninety-first Indiana volunteer infantry, under Col. Mehringer. He participated in the battles of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Franklin, Nashville, and marched through Georgia with Gen. Sherman. On June 29, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Salisbury, N.C., and mustered out at Indianapolis, after three years of brave and patriotic service in defense of his country. This was the only period in his life, during which he has not been engaged in agriculture, a pursuit which has been to him both pleasant and profitable. He was married December 15, 1869, to Mary A. Sanders, daughter of John Sanders, and Elizabeth, his wife, both of this country. This union has been a happy one, and has brought them nine children: John, George, Sadie, Caddie, Harriet, Charles W., Moses O., Clinton and Herman E., of whom all are living but John, George, and Harriet. Mr. Stinchfield has been a member of the I.O.O.F. for twenty years.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 658

James L. Thompson, a prominent citizen of Perry Township, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, December 15, 1832. He received a common school and academic education in his native land, and learned the profession of steam-engineering, under the severe restrictions of Scotland. In 1856 he came to America, and came direct to Evansville, and soon after engaged as engineer for the Ardril Iron Works, on Green River, Ky. At the outbreaking of the rebellion he enlisted in Company D, Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Col. Dunning. His captain was John H. Patrick. After serving with this regiment three months he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-Sixth Ohio, and served altogether over four years, being one of the veterans in 1865. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, Knoxville, Franklin and Nashville, and then went with his command to Texas. After his long and perilous service in defense of the nation, he was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. He then resumed the practice of engineering, and is now engaged in running the engine at Ingle's Mines. In 1868 Mr. Thompson was married to Amanda Smith, who lived but one year. In 1871 he married Louisa, daughter of Frederick Keck, and they have had these children, Emeline, James F., Jacobina Agnes, Louisa and Margaret. Mr. Thompson is a member of the A.O.U.W., and affiliates with the Baptist, and his wife with the Methodist, Church. In politics he is a republican. He has a beautiful home on the Mt. Vernon road. Mr. Thompson's parents were James Thompson and Jane Laing, his wife, who both lived their entire lives in Scotland.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Page 658

James S. Wills, a highly respected citizen and pioneer of Perry Township, was born March 1, 1822, in Scott Township, this County, the son of William Wills and his wife, Frances Sellings. The parents came to Vanderburgh County in 1819 from the County of Kent, England, where the father was engaged as a measure-maker. James spent the early part of his life with his father at the farm in Scott Township, and was able to receive but a limited education. At the age of eighteen he learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for three years and then returned to the farm life, which he followed for thirteen years with success. In June, 1857 he again began to work at carpentry, but this was interrupted in 1861 by the war of the rebellion. He enlisted July 8, 1861, in Company B, Twenty-Fifth regiment Indiana volunteers, under Col. Veatch. With his regiment he participated in the following battles: Blackwater, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth. Mr. Wills was severely wounded on the steamer Continental going from St. Louis to Cairo, and he has never recovered fully from the wound. After the siege of Corinth, Mr. Wills returned to Evansville and remained in the hospital for some time, and on regaining strength, returned to his regiment and participated in the battle of Davis Mills, Miss. He was discharged in October, 1863, at Evansville, ending a most honorable service in defense of his country and flag. Since then he has devoted himself to the peaceful business of farming and carpentry. In 1845 he was married to Frances Martin, and they had four children, William, Arniilda, John Perry, and Laura. But two are living, John Perry and Laura, in California. Mr. Wills was married a second time in 1864 to Amelia Newman, by whom he had ten children: Carrie, U. S. Grant, Amelia, James, Henry, Wallace, George, Aaron, Letitia, and Donald. Mr. Wills is a member of the I.O.O.F., and has passed through the chairs.

Source:
History of Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Brant & Fuller, c.1889
Pages 659

Township Histories & Biographies

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