Black Township (part 3 of 3)

CHEISTIAN F. TENTE, a prominent business man of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in "Westphalia, Prussia, August 19, 1833. and is the elder of two sons of Henry C. F. and Johanna M. Tente, who were born and raised in Prussia. Our subject was raised by his grandparents in his native country and secured a good high school education in his native language, and also learned some English. When about sixteen years old he began working in the postal department of his native country and later engaged in the mercantile business, continuing there until 1859, when he, with many others of his freedom loving countrymen, came to the United States. He worked as clerk for a dry goods firm in Louisville, Ky., and afterward traveled and became book-keeper for a wholesale liquor hotise. In 1864 he came to MoUnt Vernon and engaged in the grocery business with Charles Leunig. They remained partners in business about one and a half years and since that time Mr. Tente has carried on the business alone. He has met with well deserved success and has, by industry and business integrity, succeeded in establishing a large trade. He carries a full and select stock of general groceries and queensware, and is also engaged in retailing liquors. In 1866 he married his present wife. Bertha 'A. Leunig. They became the parents of seven children: Emma (the wife of Leroy M. Wade), Gustav H., OttoH., Hattie, Frederick W., Anna M. and John W. Mr. Tente' s political views are Democratic. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Masonic and Harugari fraternities. He and wife are worthy members of the Evangelical Association.

HON. GEOEGE W. THOMAS, Se., a prominent pioneer citizen of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Tennessee, March 22, 1813. He is one of a family of five sons and three daughters (two sons and one daughter are now living) born to James and Mary (Eblin) Thomas, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively. The father came fi-om Tennessee to Indiana Territory in 1814 and located on a tract of land two miles west of where Mount Vernon now is, and a year or so later removed to what is now Lynn Township. Here he farmed very successfully until his death in 1854. The mother died there fifteen years previously. Our subject secured such education as could be obtained in the early subscription schools of his boyhood days, and on attaining his majority he began farming and milling for himself, running both saw and grist-mill and also flat-boated on the river. He remained in Lynn Township until 1855, when he came to Mount Vernon and engaged in the wharf -boating business, which he has conducted successfully ever since. He has also been interested in steam-boatmg, having owned an interest in the "Eobert Mitchell" and "West Wind." He also built and ran the "G. W. Thomas."

December 25, 1834, he married Anna L. Noel, a native of Ohio. They have raised eight children to maturity: Cornelia (wife of Capt. A. M. Dusouchet), Enoch E., Cyrus, O. (deceased), Victoria (wife of William Eeeves), Alonzo J. (deceased), Virginia (widow of F. A. Pentecost), Aaron J. (deceased) and George W. Mr. Thomas' political views have always been Democratic. He was elected by his party to the State Legislature in 1849, and served until 1850. He held the posistion of county recorder from 1864 to 1868. He is a Mason of long standing and is among the leading business men of Posey County. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM W. TEAFFOED, is one of seven children born to Edmund and Nancy (Applegate) Trafford, who were natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. The father followed the occupation of farming all his life and at an early day came to Kentucky where he remained but a short time. He then came to Indiana in 1818, and located in Posey County on a farm of eighty acres, where he remained until his death in 1826. The mother was born July 11, 1792, and died March 9, 1858. The subject of our sketch made his home with his people until he attained his majority when he commenced working for himself. At the age of twenty -two years he purchased a farm of eighty acres and has kept adding to this until he now owns 775 acres of land, 220 acres of which are in Illinois. He is a stanch Eepublican in politics and his first vote was for Lewis Cass. He has always prospered in his undertakings and is one of the county's best citizens.

PHILIP TEAUDT and John Pfeffer are the proprietors of the Favorite Grist-mills of Mount Vernon, Ind. The business was established in 1861, by Fuhs, Pfeffer & Dieterle, who carried on the business until 1868, when Mr. Fuhs died and Philip Traudt purchased a one-third interest. Mr. Dieterle withdrew in 1877 and the business has been conducted by its present proprietors since that time. In 1883 they were running five set of buhrs, but added four sets of new improved rolls and now have a capacity of 150 barrels per day, and employ six men besides themselves. Philip Traudt was bOrn in the province of Hesse Cassel, Prussia, October 5, 1845, and is the youngest of eleven children born to Coonrod and Elizabeth (Fuhs) Traudt. Thef lived and died in the old country. Philip received a very good

Biographical Skbtches

German education and learned the milling business of his father. In 1865 he came to the United States in the milling business as employe in the city of New York. In 1868 he came West and located at Mount Vernon and engaged in this present business in which he has remained ever since, meeting with good success. In 1868 he married Christina Fuhs, a native of Germany. They have no children of their own but have an adopted daughter, Katharine. Mr. Traudt is a Republican and was a member of the city council two terms. He is a Mason and a member of the Harugari order. He and wife are members of the Trinity Church and he is one of Posey County's most enterprising and successful business men.

LEROT M. WADE, deputy prosecuting attorney for Posey County, Ind., a native of the county, was born August 22, 1862, the eldest of six children born to George W. and Zereldia (Williams) Wade, natives respectively of Ohio and this county. The father came to Posey County in 1850 and located on a farm near Cynthiana, where he has since resided. Leroy M., remained with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the Valparaiso Normal School and graduated in the teacher's course in 1880. He then returned home and followed the profession of teaching in his native township and Mount Vernon, being principal of the West Ward schools during 1883-84. In the meantime he had begun the study of law, with the intention of making it a profession, and read with Judge W. P. Edson, and was admitted to practice in November, 1883. In 1885 he established a law office in Mount Vernon and has since been satisfactorily engaged in the practice of his profession and attending to the duties of his office. July 12, 1885, he was married to Emma Tente, a native of Mount Vernon. Mr. Wade is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the political affairs of the county. He is a member of the Christian Church and a rising member of the legal profession. His wife is a member of the Lutheran Church.

PETER WALTER, proprietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel at Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Rhein Hessen,- Germany, March 20, 1846, and is one of. ten children born to Valentine and Barbara (Diefenbach) Walter, natives of Rhein Hessen and Rhenish Bavaria, Germany. The father died in our subject's birthplace in 1883. The mother still resides there. Peter received a very good German education, and after reaching the age of fifteen years began learning the confectioner's trade, which he mastered and followed in his native land until 1865. He then came to the United States and worked at his trade in Erie, Penn., and then on steam-boats plying on the Ohio and Mississippi Eivers. In 1871 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and at a later date engaged in the confectionery and restaurant business in Uniontown, Ky., where he remained until 1874. He then worked at his trade in Erie, Penn., until 1878, and finally came to Mount Vernon where he worked at the same business with good success until September 1, 1884. He then leased the St. Nicholas Hotel and has since kept a first-class house in every respect and controls a large share of the local and transient custom. In 1871 he was married to Margaret Moll. They have seven children: Henry, Charles, Martin, Edward, John, Frederick and Helena. Mr. Walter is a Democrat in politics.

CHAELES WASEM, a wide-awake business man of Mount Vernon, Ind., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born June 14, 1836, son of Karl and Mary Elizabeth (Roesel) Wasem, natives of the same country, where they now reside. Charles was raised in his native country and received a very good education in his native language. In 1858 he came to the United States and worked as a farm laborer in Ohio for over a year, and in 1850 came to Mount Vernon and engaged as a clerk in the grocery business for Andrew Glass, continuing with him until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted in the 100 days' service in 1864 and served his time of enlistment in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In 1865 he engaged in the retail liquor business here and continued until 1867, when he returned to Germany on a visit and remained there about six months. He then returned to Mount Vernon and re-engaged in the liquor business. In 1869 he built his present business block and has since conducted the business in a strictly firstclass manner. He was married to Louisa Pretoreus, a native of Germany. They became the parents of one child (deceased). They have an adopted son named Harry. Mr. Wasem is a Republican in politics, a Mason and member of Harugari order. He and wife are members of the Trinity Church.

ANDEEW WASEM, treasurer of Posey County, Ind., is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born, November 20,. 1849, son of Karl and Elizabeth (Koesel) Wasem, who were the parents of seven children, our subject being next to the youngest. Both parents are still living in Germany. Andrew was raised with his parents in his native country, and received the ordinary compulsory education. When thirteen years old he left home, and began learning the cabinet-maker's trade in one of the cities of Germany. At the end of four years he came to the United States and located in Mount Vernon, where he remained but a short time, and then went to St. Louis, and there followed his trade until 1869. He then worked at cabinet-making in Louisville until 1870, and then returned to Mount Vernon, and worked as carpenter and millwright in George Wolfling & Co.'s distillery, until 1871. He clerked in Leuning &. Co.'s grocery store for two years, and when the company dissolved he entered into partnership with Charles Leuning, continuing with him four years,, and then retailed liquors until 1879. He and his brother, underthe firm name of C. & A. Wasem, began selling groceries. They met with good success and continued together until November, 1882, when Andrew was elected to his present position by the Democratic party, and was re-elected two years later, and is. now filling the duties of his responsible position ably and efficiently. November 21, 1872, he married Bertha Leuning, anative of St. Louis, but of German extraction. They became the parents of four children: Oscar L. and Lulu G, now living.. Mr. Wasem has always been a Democrat in politics. He is a. Mason of the Eoyal Arch degree. He and wife were raised im the Lutheran faith, but are not members of any church. He isi an enterprising and prosperous citizen, and an aifable and popular official.

VINCENT WECKESSEE, a wide-awake and popular groceryman of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in Konigshofen, Baden,. Germany, January 29, 1833, and is one of seven children born to. John Adam and Anna E. (Andres) Weckesser who were natives of the same country, where they lived and died. Vincent, our subject, was raised in his native land and obtained a fair German education in the schools of that country. When twentv-four years old he left home and friends and came to the Unitecl.

States, locating in Dayton, Ohio, where he learned the cooper's trade. About two years later (1859) he came to Mount Vernon, where he plied his trade quite successfully for about three years. He then clerked in a hotel and saloon for some time, and in 1864 he and Frank Stoeckler formed a partnership and started a grocery and saloon, continuing together until 1881, when Mr. Weckesser assumed entire control of the business. He has met with the best of success, and carries a full and select stock of general groceries and queensware, and controls a large share of trade, in his line of business, in town and county. In 1866 he married Catherine Rickert. They are the parents of seven children - one son and six daughters. In politics Mr. Weckesser is a stanch Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is one of the stockholders of the International Bank, and it may be truly said of him that he is essentially a self-made man. Starting in life with little or no capital, he has risen step by step, until he ranks among the highest in the county as a business man, and bears the respect and esteem of all who know him,

JOHN B. WEEVER, M. D., of Mount Vernon, Ind., was born in the town of Hallowell, Me., September 25, 1836, being next eldest of seven children born to Charles 8. and Mary T. (Trafton) Weever, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Maine. The father, who was a physician and surgeon, came to Indiana in 1837, and located at Bvansville where he followed his profession successfully until 1850. He held the position of Professor of Anatomy in Evansville Medical College for one year, and then came to Mount Vernon, where he very soon had a large and lucrative practice. His death occurred April 21, 1861. The mother died in April, 1884. John B. was raised by his father, and secured the ordinary literary education to be obtained in the city schools. At an early age he began studying medicine under his father, and at the age of fourteen years attended a full course of lectures in Evansville Medical College. He continued an irregular course of study until he was nineteen years old, when he entered the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Penn., from which institution he graduated in the spring of 1858. He then came to Mount Vernon, and practiced with his father until the latter's death, when he assumed entire control of affairs, and now has the leading practice in Posey County, in which he has been very successful. In December, 1862, he married Emma J. Slocum, a native of Carmi, 111. They became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Walter E.., George S., and Paul S. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, but takes little part in political matters, devoting his entire time and attention to his profession. He is a member of the American, State and County Medical Societies, and also of the American Public Health Association. He is a very successful practitioner, and one of Mount Vernon's most enterprising professional men.

HON. JOSEPH F. WELBOEN may be mentioned among the representative men of Posey County, Ind. He was born in Guilford County, N. C, August 6, 1818, and in 1833 immigrated with his parents to Indiana, and located in Mount Vernon where the father worked for a number of years at wagon-making, and Joseph cultivated a small farm near town until he attained his majority. He then removed to Robinson Township and engaged in stock raising and farming, meeting with good success. He gave especial attention to fine stock and acquired the reputation of being an excellent judge of horses and hogs. In 1844 he married Nancy Mills, whose father was a prominent and early settler of the county. In 1856 Mr. Welborn rented his farm and came to Mount Vernon where he engaged in the pork packing biisiness in connection with William Lowry. In 1872 he, in company with some other prominent men, established the Mount Vernon Banking Company, and he was chosen president. In 1858 he was elected county treasurer for two years, and in 1876 was nominated by the Democrats for representative to the Legislature, and was elected by a large majority. He was for fifteen years chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, and was a delegate to Chicago in 1864, when George B. McClellan was nominated for the presidency. Since his retirement from the Mount Vernon Banking Company, Mr. Welborn has given his entire time and attention to dealing in real estate and farm land. He owns about 2,000 acres of the very choicest land in the county, nearly all being improved by tile ditching and other improvements. He has given much time and attention to aid in the extension of railroads, and his name wiU ever be mentioned with feelings of pride and respect.

ASA C. WILLIAMS, son of Urbane and Nancy (Johnson) Williams, is the fifth in a family of twelve children, and was born October 20, 1818, in Nelson County, Ky. His parents were natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. They were married in Kentucky and came to Indiana in March, 1828, locating near Stewartsville, in Posey County on a farm where they lived about two years. They then purchased a tract of land in Harmony Township, which they cleared and improved, undergoing all the hardships incident to pioneer life. The fathers death occurred June 25, 1848. The mother died in February, 1845. Asa secured an ordinary education by limited attendance each year in the primitive log schoolhouse, common to the frontier. At the age of twenty-one, he began farming for himself in Harmony Township, and in 1842 he moved to Lynn (now Centre) Township, where he purchased his first piece of land (forty acres). In 1847 he removed to the farm where he now lives. Here he raised his family and farmed very successfully, accumulating over a section of land. November 17, 1867, he came to Mount Vernon, being a stockholder of the First National Bank, and has given his time and attention to this business ever since. He was vice-president of the bank a number of years, and was afterward elected president in 1873, which position he now holds. January 28, 1840, he married Dicy Cox, a native of the county who died August 29, 1844, having borne three children, one now living named Martha, the wife of Charles Hayes. July 17, 1845, he married his present wife, Anna Gwaltney, a native of Posey County, and daughter of Benjamin Gwaltney, a pioneer citizen of the -county. By this last marriage Mr. Williams became the father of three living children: Dicy (wife of John W. Oartwright), John T. and Stephen Jett. Mr. Williams has always been a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Van Buren in 1840. He served as county commissioner from 1858 to 1864, and has held other offices of trust, such as township trustee, etc. He has probably settled up more estates in Posey County than any other one resident. Mr. Williams is not a member of any church, yet he attends the Baptist Church regularly and contributes largely to its support. He is recognized as one of Mount Vernon's most influential citizens, and is a man worthy the esteem of all.

DE. MOSES WINNINGS, deceased, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 1, 1799. March 1, 1828, he was married to Eliza Anable, who died August 2, 1828. For his second wife, he took Avarilla Baker, who was born in Kentucky, January 12, 1814, and died March 27, 1864, leaving five children: Mrs. Mary James, of ETansville ; Mrs. Henrietta Sparks, wife of A. A. Sparks; Mrs. Kate Humphrey, widow of Capt. S. H. Humphrey; Mrs. Tillie Kodecker, wife of Dr. C. W. Eodecker, and Benjamin L. Winnings. Dr. Winnings came to Evansville in 1850, and resided in that place two years when he removed to Mount Vernon, where he lived forty-five years. His death occurred July 25, 1876.

Source changes here: from History of Posey County, Indiana, by Leffel, John C., B, published 1913; 221 words in this source stream.

Black Township

Black township was named after the three brothers, Hugh, William and Thomas Black, who were highly respected by their acquaintances, and who were among the early pioneers of this part of the county. The township was organized March 24, 1817, by the county commissioners who were in session at Blackford, and included what is known now as Point township, but from August 14, 1821, till May 13, 1822, was called

In 1810 James Black built the first mill in the township. It was a horse-mill. In 1817 he built a water-mill on Big Creek and afterwards moved his horse-mill to the same place for use when the water was too low.

In 1831 Darius North, Virgil Soaper and Andrew McFadden built the first steam mill in the township at Mt. Vernon. It was at first a sawmill, burrs being added later for grinding corn, and finally changed to a grist mill and distillery.

In 1832 John Weir built a water mill within the city limits of Mt. Vernon, but soon after moved it to the river bank and changed it to a steam mill.

The first tannery in Posey was built by Adam Albright in 1810, on the farm known as the "Old Jordan Place," five miles northwest of Mt. Vernon. This was before the quick process of tanning was known.