Perry Township

Perry Township

Earlv Scltlcrs. - The settlement of Perr}' township began soon after the dawn of the nineteenth century. Concerning the name and character of him who first penetrated the wilderness then here nothing is known. As early as iSo6 or 1807 a few pioneers had crossed, on rude rafts, from the Kentucky shore, and found their wa\' into this township. At this date the Indians had not left the county, and regardless of the treaties made by the chiefs of the tribes, many of them were inclined to resist the invasion of the poorl}' protected pioneers. In view of the large German element in the population of the count}' to-daj', it is a significant fact that the first who is positively known to have come here, not as a hunter, but as a settler, was a native of German3\ George Linxweiler, father of the late William Linxweiler, both well known in their day, was one of the first German immigrants to this part of the great west. He landed opposite the mouth of Green river in March, 1806, and after looking around the vicinity, settled upon the tract of land afterward widely known as the residence of the late J. B. Stinson. There he erected a log cabin, in which his son William was born on the 12th day of February, 1809. The best obtainable evidence indicates that this was the first white child born in the township. In the spring of iSir Mr. Linxweiler, with his family, removed to the Whetstone farm, in what is now Center township. About the time this child first saw the light of day, another pioneer, who was afterward well-known in the township, was wending his way to its borders. This was George Miller, who came from Kentucky with his wife, Elizabeth, and settled about three miles west of Evansville, in section 33, in which neighborhood he lived until his death, which occurred about 1820. The Millers crossed the river three times before permanently locating, each time being driven back by hostile Indians. They first landed near the present site of the city of Evansville, where they found a rude cabin, which had the appearance of having been but recently erected, and in the wild forests about it there was nothinoto indicate that any other attempts at settlement had been made. They took possession of the cabin, Hved in it a few months and then pushed on through the wilderness to the spot afterward chosen for their permanent home. Following the Millers, within a few months, came Elder John B. Stinson, then a young man, and his father, both of whom were coopers by trade, at which for for some time they were occupied. They settled on the banks of the river about two miles below Evansville. Here the young man rose to a lofty pinnacle in public esteeiri. He was commissioned the first sheriff of Vanderburgh countj- by Gov. Jennings, in 1818, served in the Indian wars as a captain with distinction, was elected probate judge of the county, served satisfactorilv, and was called by the public to serve it in various capacities of trust and honor. He was a consistent member and able preacher in the General Baptist church. Though not a eloquent talker, he was profound in thought, powerful in argument, and the best disciplinarian the church ever had. In the later years of his life he built a home in the city, where the custom house now stands, but spent most of his time on the farm in Perry township. He was one of the most prominent men Perrj^ township ever produced, and decidedly the most prominent up to the date of iiis death, which occurred in 1S50. He married the eldest daughter of the pioneer Mrs. Elizabeth Miller - Matilda Payne - and was the father of nine children.

Early Settlement

Elder Benoni Stinson, a brother of J. B. Stinson, came in 1821, and from that time until his death in 1870 lived on the farm adjoining that of his brother, and now the homestead of Maj. J. B. Cox. He was a Baptist preacher, blessed with great natural ability, but without a scholarly education. It was here in Perry township, on October 5, 1823, that he gathered about him thirty-three devout souls, whose faith was like his, and organized that afterward powerful denomination known as the General Baptists of the west.

Though others may have "squatted" along the river the Millers were doubtless the first who pushed their way to the interior of the township. For some time after they came all about them was a pathless, wolf-infested wilderness. They at once commenced clearing a spot in the forest for cultivation, and soon had a small cornfield and truckpatch. Between their clearing and the cabin on the Stinson place there was a strip of woods, but a footpath was soon tramped through the underbrush between the places, and these pioneers were neighbors in the fullest sense of that word, so rich in meaning. Westward, near the Posey county line, and about three miles from the Millers, another settlement was made about 1S25. There William Ragland and William Martin raised their cabins. Soon . others drifted in to share with them the trials and hardships, the joys and triumphs of life on the frontier. Beyond this settlement there was no other until Posey county was reached.

James Robertson was an earlj' settler in the Miller neighborhood ; lie was a prosperous farmer, and lived in the township until his death, about 1845. He married Nancy Stinson, now Mrs. Calloway, who was born in the J. B. Stinson farm in 1809, and lived continuously in the count}' until two years ago, when she went to reside with her daughters in White county. 111. It is generally conceded that she was the first female white child born in Perry township. Among the first of these settlers was William Wagnon. Upon his arrival he settled near the Millers, but subsequently removed to the northwest corner of the township, and died there at about ninety years of age. He was one of the first associate judges of the new county, and wielded considerable influence in his day. He was a rough character, unscrupulous, and made himself obnoxious to man}- of the early settlers. About the time of the commencement of hostilities in tlie westconseej^uent upon the war of 181 2 with England, the Indians in this section of Indiana territor}- became more troublesome than usual, and the white settlers were obliged to exercise extreme caution for the protection of the lives of their families. The natural hostility of these savages was inflamed by the conduct of Wagnon. He had a cabin on the banks of Wagnon creek, (which had been named for him.) below Evansville, where he sold whiskey. Always ready to traffic with the Indians he supplied them with " firewater " in order the more readily to make sharp bargains, and thus deliberately placed the lives of the pioneers in danger. His popularity, however, was not sufficiently impaired to occasion his defeat at the polls.

George and Susan Edmond were early settlers who subsequently migrated to Union township, where the former, in later 3^ears, was found dead by the roadside, the cause of the death being a mj'ster}-, and unknown to this day. These pioneers were the parents of Michael Edmond, now of Union township, who was born near Ingle's coal mines, in November, 1815, and is now probablv the oldest resident native-born citizen of the county. James and Joseph Cox, brothers, came to the township in 1818.

For a time they worked at the potter's trade, and subsequently made considerable money in sellinij wood to steamers on the Ohio river. They were eminently respectable always. John M. Lockwood, now a prominent citizen of Posey county, and in early times a man of influence for good here, was one of the pioneers in the northwest part of the township. Patrick Lyons earlj' became a freeholder and lived in the extreme southeast corner of the township. Reuben Long early came to Perry, but soon moved to Union township, where he lived until his death. Nicholas Loner, not the German pioneer of that name, but an American, belonged to that free-from-care, easy-going class who depended on the excitement of the chase for pleasure and on its achievements for food. He cleared a little "truck-patch" in the woods, and went out of the country when the game became scarce.

Thomas and William Hooker were also pioneers who, viewed in comparison with the rush and hurr}- that characterize the present age, might be considered indolent and thriftless. They were poor but honest men, and were never weaned from the simple customs of the backwoodsmen. Thomas was one of the stoutest men of his da}-, and in those friendly contests of " main strength and awkwardness," so common at log rolhngs and barn raisings, always won the victory. Peter Miller, who came with his parents in 1809, lived m Perr}- township, until about 1853, then in Union township until about 1870, when he died, was a noted deer hunter and a stor}^ teller. He is known to have killed upward of fifty deer in a year, and occasionally brought down a bear. He was six feet high, very slender, a very fast walker and a good runner. He could walk farther in a day than any man in the settlement, and was the winner at all the early day foot-races. His stories were always so graphic that they have not yet faded from the memories of his listeners. Other pioneers were Oliver and Isaac Fairchild, who died in the township at an earl}- date, John Stoner, who earl}' removed to Union township, Henry D. Smith, a well-known old time shoemaker, Ezekiel Saunders, grandfather of James D. Saunders, of Union township, a prominent preacher in the regular Baptist church, who lived for thirty or forty years near the Posey county line on the lower Mt. Vernon road, exerting an influence for good during all that time, and Jeffrey Saunders, Ezekiel's brother, who later was a well-known citizen of Posey county. Following these pioneers came others, singly and in groups, and gradually the wild beasts that so long had annoyed and endangered the life of the settlers, were driven out, and their homes became the dwelling places of civilized men. Slowly, but with never a backw'ard step, the evolution went on. Progress became the watchword emblazoned on the banner of the marching generations; the log cabin, chinked and daubed, gave way to the comfortable and even luxurious home; the clearing or the truck-patch grew into broad fields, fenced and farmed on scientific principles, with the best machinery that the ingenuity of man could devise ; huge barns filled with plenty, and well-fed cattle, either in stalls or roaming in rich pastures, replaced the straw-shed and the poor cow that browsed so long on dry twigs that she became an easy prey to the hungry wolves that chased and killed her; school-houses and churches sprang into existence as if at the command of the magi, until now the best results of enlightenment and civilized effort seem to have been attained.

upon this section of the country between 1830 and 1840, in numbers somewhat as the Goths and Huns of the north poured in upon the Romans of old. They and their descendants now compose a large part of the population, and yet many of the children of the pioneers possess the lands of their fathers.

A Tragedy. - In 1 851 or 1852 a gang of counterfeiters carried on their operations in Perry township under the leadership of Milo Dolly. Three of the men, Grigsby, Skaggs and Spelts by name, broke into the house of an inoffensive German named Miller, killed him and his two sons, mutilated their bodies and then set fire to the house and destroyed all evidences of their crime. An inquest was held, and a verdict found which implicated none of the guilty parties. The public generally believed the dreadful calamity to be the result of an accident. The criminals, however, had forged Miller's name to a bill of sale of his personal propertjr, and to a deed or mortgage of his lands. In trymg to enforce these false claims, the perpetrators of the crime exposed their guilt, and the details of the affair were fully discovered. Intense excitement followed. Grigsby was a well-appearing man, of good repute, aud associated with respectable people. His connection with the deed occasioned great astonishment. An interesting trial ensued, and the murderers were sent to the penitentiary, where two of them, Skaggs and Spelts, died. Nothing ever before so thoroughly aroused the people of Perry township as did this tragedy.

Churches. - Probabl}'' the first church organization in the township was that effected by the followers of Ezekiel Saunders, already mentioned as a powerful Baptist preacher of earh- da^'S, known as the Regular Baptists. Prominent among his colaborers were Elders Jacobs and Parker.

Their early meetings were held at the old Saunders homestead and the church flourished for several years, having in 1823 at least 100 devoted, active members. Subsequently the society built a church in Posej' county, and thus ended its history so far as connected with this township. Because of doctrinal differences thirty-three members of this congregation withdrew under the leadership of the gifted Benoni Stinson, and on October 5, 1823, formed a society which still prospers - the General Baptists of the west. Elder Stinson was chosen pastor for the new church and continued in that relation almost continuously until his death, which occurred in 1870. He taught the doctrines of free moral agency and a general atonement, abandoning those of predestination and a partial atonement. The new congregation soon after its formation built a small log church in what is now German township, near the Perry township line. Here they worshipped for two or three years and then moved to a point near the site of the present church. The second building was small and made of logs. It served the growing congregation only a few years, when the demands for a larger edifice became so great that a frame building, commodious and substantial, was provided. This church was erected in 1857, was dedicated by Elder Stinson and other preachers, and is still well preserved. It stands on the Henderson road, about one mile from the city limits. Others who have served as pastors to this congregation are: Elders Jesse Lane, Alvah Parker, J. B. Stinson, James Enslee, J. W. Blackburn, Wilson Blackburn, T. M. Strain, Jacob Spear and W. W. Charles. For about fifteen j'ears past the congregation has averaged about sixty members, and is now quite prosperous. The German Evangelical Lutheran EnianncPs Church, of Perry township, was organ- ized in 1854 throujjh the labors of Rev. A. Saupert, who served the society for man}' years. Under him a division arose and about one-half the members went with him to Trinity church in Evans\ille. The church has always been supphed by the pastor of a church of the same name on the corner of First avenue and East Franklin street in Evansville. They are separate organizations, but the country church is a filial of the city church. Rev. Saupert was succeeded by Rev. Reidenbach, and he by Rev. H. Koenig, who served twelve years. The present pastor is Rev. George Bachmann, in charge during the past twelve years. Among the earliest members were: Henr}' Oppermann, Christ Bakelmann, Conrad Schuenemann, Henry Henricks, Henry Mahrenholz, Fred Mahrenholz, Traugott Hauschild, and their families. The present membership comprises fourteen families; fifty communicants. In 1854, o" ^^^ middle Mt. Vernon road, six miles from Evansville, a small log building was erected as a place of worship. Since renovated and remodeled, it has been made a very neat and comfortable edifice.

Tozviis. - There are no towns in the township except Perryville, or Babytovvn as commonly called, which is practically a small part of Evansville, having no importance as a separate village. Col. John Rheinlander, a man of considerable note as a soldier in the Mexican and civil wars, and as a leading business man, established a grocery and cigar factory here some thirty years ago. The growth and the inception of the place have been due to this enterprise.

Biographical

Joseph H. Br.\ndis, deceased, was a native of England, born in Birmingham, October 28, 1805. At Stratford at an early age he made his first entrv 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 lad}' 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 dose application, the dry goods business, in which he profitable. After twent3--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, WiUiam 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.

Herman Klamer, who resides just west of Evansville, in Perry township, is a native of Germany, born September 25, 1836, son of JohnM. and Charlotte (Kleinsmidt) Klamer. At fifteen years of age he became emploj^ed 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 vicinitj' 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 i860, he was engaged at brick-making in Armstrong township. From the fall of i860, 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, i860, Mr. Klamer was married to Mary Schloskey, a native of Germany, born August 6, 1840, the daughter of William and Christiana Schloske}', 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.

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 flouringmill, of which he is at present the half owner, which has become a leading industry, and one of the prominent mills of the countr}-. 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 Carolina. 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 con-

William Poggemeier, a prominent farmer of Perry township, is a native of Prussia, born October lo, 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 Henr^' and Katherine Reckfurst, and they have had nine children : Mary, Caroline, Henr}^, 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.

Conrad Rose, a well-known farmer of Perry township, was born in Germany, September II, 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 j-ears old. As a boy and 3-outh 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 inauspiciously 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, Si.xtyfifth 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 full}' recovered from the effect of that army illness to this day. He was mustered out at Grcensburg, 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 famil}' is known throughout southern Indiana, and whose distinguished career is treated of in another part of this volume. They have had four children: Benoni S., Parthenia, Guy C, and Harry B., all living and at home but Guy, who departed tiiis 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.