ANDREW HASSFURTHER, one of the old settlers of Dubois County, Ind., was born March 14, 1828, in Bavaria, Germany, and is a son of Matthew and Eve (Helmuth) Hassfurther, who were born in Germany. His father was a farmer, and possessed quite a talent for music, playing on almost any kind of instrument. He immigrated to America in 1840 and settled in Dubois County, where he bought eighty-six acres of land. His death occurred June, 1869, and his widow’s February 10 of the following year. Our subject came to America with his parents when twelve years of age, and made his home with them until his marriage to Barbara Gessner, August 5, 1855. They have had five children: Elizabeth, Mattie, John, John Peter and Mary. After his marriage he settled on the old homestead, where he now lives. His father gave him forty acres of good land, and by energy and industry he now owns 205 acres, all of which make him a good home. He inherits his father’s taste for music, and is quite a skillful player on nearly all instruments. Mr. Hassfurther is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JACOB JOCHEM, one of the enterprising young farmers of Ferdinand Township, was born February 15, 1848, in Dubois County, Ind., and is one of a family of ten children born to Nicholas and Maggie (Louer) Jochem. His father was born November 2, 1815, in Hanover, Germany, and was a farmer by occupation. He immigrated to the United States in 1847 and settled in Dubois County, where he bought 105 acres of land and where he yet lives. Our subject was reared at home, attending school for four years. He made his home with his people until he was twenty-three years old. January 31, 1872, he married Mary Stroumeyer, a native of Indiana. They have had born to them five children: Maggie, Barbara, Katie, John (deceased), and Mary (deceased). After marriage he located on eighty acres in Ferdinand Township which was given him by his father and which has since been his home. In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Horace Greeley. His wife died February 28, 1882. He and family belong to the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



CHARLES KNAPP, wagon and carriage manufacturer was born September 26, 1835, in Germany, and is a son of Frank and Anna M. Knapp, both of whom were also natives of Germany. His father carried on farming as an occupation, and in connection with this worked at blacksmithing. He is yet living at the age of eighty-one. His mother died in 1867. Our subject after receiving a common school education, worked in his father’s shop and on the farm. At the age of eighteen he came to the United States, locating in Louisville, Ky., where he remained upward of four years, working as a blacksmith. In 1854 he removed to Spencer County, Ind., and worked in Fulda and Rockport for one year, at the end of which he came to Dubois county and settled in Ferdinand. In 1857 he bought eighty acres of land, and a year later he bought two lots in the village. September 8, 1868, he married Jacobin Hees, born May, 1838, in Spencer County, Ind., to whom were born twelve children: Martin, Mary, Lizzie, Lena, John, Theresa, Bertha, Frankie, August (deceased), Harmon (deceased), Johanna (deceased) and Rosa (deceased). By good management Mr. Knapp now owns eighty acres of land and nine lots, and five acres of land in Ferdinand. In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



ANTHONY KELLER, one of the prominent farmers of Dubois County, Ind., was born January 16, 1847, in the county where he now lives. He is a son of Polycarp and Margaret (Spann) Keller, both of whom were natives of Germany. His father followed farming as an occupation and came to this country about 1837, and lived in the State of New York a few years, when he came to Dubois county and bought 120 acres of land three miles east of Jasper where he now lives at the good old age of seventy-eight years. His wife died December 27, 1877, in her fifty-eighth year. The subject of our biography received a common school education, and worked for his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. February 8, 1870, he married Mary Rice, a native of Jasper, Dubois Co., Ind., to whom seven children were born: Mary, Frances, Katie, Anthony, Susan, Theresa and Leo Joseph. After marriage, Mr. Keller bought 239 acres of land in Ferdinand Township, where he moved and has since lived. He is a skillful and industrious farmer, and deserves his good fortune. He is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Horace Greeley. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JOSEPH G. KIPPANBROCK was born April 6, 1826, in Prussia, Germany, and is a son of George G. and Mary Ann (Richter) Kippanbrock, both of whom are natives of Prussia. His father was a farmer by occupation, and lived in his native country until his death in 1880, at the age of eighty-four years. His mother died in 1850, fifty-seven years old. Our subject remained in his native country until he reached his majority, when he came to the United States, stopping in Toledo, Ohio, a short time, thence to Pennsylvania, working on a canal boat one summer, thence to Carbondale, N.J., and there worked on a railroad for one winter, at the end of which he went to Michigan City, Ind., and worked at the same business for five months, when he “pulled up stakes” and went to St. Louis, Mo. He remained in the last named place only a short time, when he went to Louisville, Ky., and drove dray for one year. From there he went to Cannelton, Perry Co., Ind., and worked in the cotton factory for four years. He then came to Ferdinand, Dubois Co., Ind., and January 15, 1857, he married Mary A. (Hidemann) Rerchted, a native of Germany. To them were born four children: Josephine (deceased), John, Benjamin and George. After marriage Mr. Kippanbrock bought 120 acres of land in Ferdinand Township, on which he has since lived. He has good buildings on his farm, and is doing well. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



HENRICH KITTEN, who was born September 19, 1828, in Prussia, is a son of Henry and Theresa (Heke) Kitten, both of whom were born in Prussia. His father was a wooden-shoe-maker by occupation, left his native country in 1850, and came to the New World, settling in Dubois County, Ind. He lived with his son Joseph about three years, and died July, 1853. Our subject received a common school education, and worked on the farm until he was about eighteen years old, when he began learning his father’s trade. He made shoes for two years, and in 1848 he came to America, and settled in Lawrence County, Ohio, where he worked as a day laborer, breaking iron ore. He lived in that county two years, and then came to Dubois County, Ind., and bought 80 acres of land which, by good management, he has since increased to 200 acres. April 5, 1853, he married Mary Thieman, a native of Germany, to whom seven children have been born: Anna (deceased), Henry, Joseph (deceased), Caroline (deceased), Theresa, Mary and Catharine. In politics, Mr. Kitten is a Democrat, and he and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



FLORENS KITTEN, mechanic, of Ferdinand, was born September, 1840, in Prussia, and is a son of Henry and Theresa (Heke) Kitten, both of whom were born in Prussia. His father was a wooden-shoe-maker by occupation. He left his native country in 1850, and came to Dubois County, Ind., where he lived with his son Joseph for about three years. He died in July, 18?3, and the mother in the spring of 1859. The subject of our sketch was reared at home, receiving a common school education. He came to this country with his parents when about ten years old, and worked on the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he abandoned farming and commenced learning the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for six years. In 1868 he married Kate Laugis, a native of Spencer County, Ind., to whom one child was born, named Joseph. After marriage he commenced manufacturing threshing machines, at which he is still engaged. In 1882 he commenced the manufacture of traction engine, thus forcibly illustrating his skill as a number one mechanic. He has in his employ from three to five hands, and is doing a thriving business. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



GEORGE LINDER, who was born December 1, 1818, in France, is a son of John and Mary Magdeline Linder, who were natives of the same country. Mrs. Linder died in Havre de Grace, France, in 1832, and that same year Mr. Linder came to America to seek his fortune. He first located in Perry County, Ohio, where he remained five years, at the end of which he moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and bought eighty acres of land, where he commenced his career as a farmer. In 1854 he moved to Shelby County of the same State, and died in the winter of 1857. Our subject was educated in the common schools of France, and came with his father to the United States in 1832. For the first three years, he worked for his board and clothes, and at the age of sixteen he commenced working for himself in a brickyard, and the next two years on a canal. He then went to Morgan County, Ohio, and worked seven years in a salt manufacturing establishment. He next worked seven years in a foundry in Cincinnati, Ohio, and then took a trip to the “Golden Gate” by land and remained there two years. He then returned to Cincinnati and married Wilhelmena Koerner, a native of Germany, in 1855. To them were born nine children: John Henry (deceased), Joseph William, Stephen August, George Alexander, Rosa Amanda (deceased), Rosa Emily, Laura Anna, Mary Cacillie and Everhart Edmund. After his marriage he came to Dubois County and bought eighty acres of land. By good management he now owns 320 acres with good buildings. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



MATHIAS OLINGER, son of Mathias and Margaret Olinger, was born January 26, 1842, in Germany. His father followed farming and blacksmithing as an occupation, and came to this country in 1846 and settled in Spencer County, where he bought 160 acres of land and commenced his career as a farmer. Both he and his wife are yet living at a good old age. Our subject received a common school education and remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age, working on the farm. Becoming tired of this, he went to Chicago, in 1865, to learn the carpenter’s trade, where he remained three years. He then returned home, and November 24, 1868, he married Catharine Kellerman, who was born July 5, 1849, in Madison, Ind. To them were born eight children: Mathias, Catherine, Bertha, Rosa, John, Mary, Albert and Michael. After his marriage, he located in Ferdinand, Ind., and began keeping a furniture store. In connection with this, he bought a saw-mill, and, as the mill proved to be more profitable, in 1880 he sold out his furniture store and has given his time to the mill. He now owns about 170 acres of good land, besides two saw-mils, and an interest in a third. He also has a fine vineyard from which he makes from three to eight barrels of wine per year. Mr. Olinger is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



FRANK QUANTE, architect, of Ferdinand, Ind., was born December 9, 1833, is Prussia, Germany, and is a son of Gerhard and Theressa (Vith) Quante, also natives of Prussia. Gerhard, who was an architect by occupation, traveled in Holland and his native country overseeing the buildings he had designed. Both parents died in Germany, the father in 1858 and the mother in 1875. Our subject received the benefit of the common schools of Germany, and in addition took a business course of two years. At the age of sixteen, he commenced learning the carpenter and cabinet-maker’s trade, and in 1855, he immigrated to the United States, locating in Dubois County, where he continued at his trade. April 21, 1861, he married Thrasa Heilan, a native of Prussia. Mr. Quante worked at his trade for upward of eight years, when he bought an interest in a saw-mill, at which he worked for seven years, meeting with fair success. In 1870 he resumed his trade and has been working at it off and on ever since. He is quite a genius in his line of business, and has had excellent success. He is now engaged in erecting a large brick building or young ladies’ seminary. In politics he is a warm Democrat, and in 1877 he was appointed assessor of Ferdinand Township by the county commissioners. He served two years, and in 1879, he was elected as county surveyor for two years. Mr. Quante may be proud of his career, for he commenced life as a poor boy, but by energy and economy, he now owns 800 acres of land, two houses and seven lots in Ferdinand, and two lots in St. Mark’s. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



HENRY REMKE, born February 28, 1815, in Germany, is a son of Herman and Elizabeth Remke, both of whom were natives of Germany. His father followed weaving as an occupation, and in connection did farm work. He and wife lived and died in their native country. The former’s death occurred in 1831, and the latter’s in 1832. The subject of this memoir received a common school education in his native land, and after leaving school began supporting himself, at the early age of sixteen years. When twenty-two years of age he came to the United States, and located in Maryland, where he worked on a canal for nearly four years. He then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, and worked in a brickyard for two years, and finally came to Dubois County, Ind., and bought forty acres of land, where he has since lived. May 7, 1843, he married Mary Aversmann, a native of Hanover, Germany, to whom eight children were born, four of whom are living: Mary, Catherine, Henry and Elizabeth. By his energy and industry he now owns 160 acres of good land. In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for James K. Polk. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JOHN G. STALLMAN, son of Andrew and Catherine (Elman) Stallman, who were natives of Prussia, was born June, 1820. He came with his parents to America when nearly seventeen years of age, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1836, where they lived about three years, at the end of which they came to Dubois County, Ind., and settled in Ferdinand Township, where the father died in June, 1860, at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother in 1868, in her eighty-fifth year. While in Cincinnati our subject worked in a stone quarry, and in 1840 he came to Dubois County, and bought forty acres of land in Ferdinand Township, where he settled and has since lived. July 22, 1848, he married Catherine Woebkenberg, a native of Prussia, to whom eight children were born: Benjamin, Mary, Garhard, Catherine, Ungler, William, Lena and John. Mr. Stallman settled on his farm when it was a wilderness, but by energy and industry he has cleared the place and erected good, substantial buildings. He now owns 160 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat, being one of the leading men of his party. In 1869 he was appointed county commissioner to fill a vacancy from the Third District. In 1872 he was re-elected for another term, receiving a very large majority, thus illustrating his popularity among the people. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



ALBERT SONDERMANN (deceased) was born September 3, 1838, in Prussia, Germany, and is one of a family of four children. His parents, Antony and Josepha (Sondermann) Sondermann, were natives of Prussia. The father, who followed school teaching as an occupation, died in 1839. His mother then married Antony Theile, and in 1875 left their native country and came to Ferdinand, Ind. Her death occurred October 4, 1876, at the age of sixty-one. Our subject received the benefit of the schools of Germany for seven years. After leaving school he worked on a farm for three years. At the age of seventeen he came to America, locating in Ferdinand. In 1857 he hired out to John Gohmann as a clerk, and the next year began to work for Mrs. Poschen, with whom he stayed for about four years. November 21, 1865, he married Frances Rademacher, daughter of Charles and Catherine Rademacher. She was born in Louisville, Ky. They have nine children: Joseph, Augusta (deceased), Mary, Frank, Louisa (deceased), Bertha, Rosa (deceased), Matilda and Albertine. After marriage Mr. Sondermann rented the building occupied by Mrs. Poschen, and began keeping a general merchandise store. He soon accumulated money enough to buy eighty acres of land, on which he erected a large brick store - one of the finest in town. He died September 10, 1884. Since then Mrs. Sondermann and her son, Joseph, have carried on the business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sondermann were members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JOHN SCHILLING, an enterprising farmer of Ferdinand Township, was born September 6, 1850, in Alleghany County, Penn., and is one of the children of Jacob and Angel (Casper) Schilling, both of whom were natives of Germany. Jacob came to this country when quite a small lad; locating in Pittsburg, he became a coal miner. He stayed for about twelve years in that city when he moved to Dubois County, Ind., and bought 192 acres of land. His death occurred about 1852, and his widow died June 16, 1881. Our subject received such education as could be obtained in the common schools, but after his father’s death he aided his mother on the farm until he was thirty years of age. In January, 1880, he married Susan Simon, a native of Spencer County, Ind., to whom three children were born: Mary, Johnnie and Susie. At the death of his father he inherited one-third of his estate, or sixty-four acres, on which he located after marriage and now lives. In politics he is a Democrat and he and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JOSEPH STELTENPOHL was born February 28, 1838, in Germany. He is one of nine children born to Henry and Gertrude (Klene Fortmann) Steltenpohl, who were natives of Germany, the former died in the summer of 1845, the latter, about 1871. Our subject, according to the law of his native land, attended school seven years. He then became a sailor, which occupation he followed for about ten years. He then came to Cincinnati, Ohio, and began work as a cabinet-maker at which he has since continued. June 3, 1873, he married Caroline Bencken, a native of Germany, by whom he is the father of seven children: Joseph, Josephine, Carrie, Frankie (deceased), Anna, Frankie and Henry. In 1878 he moved to Dubois County, Ind., bought two lots in Ferdinand, on which he erected him a commodious furniture store and dwelling house combined. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his vote for Gen. Hancock. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



LAWRENCE TRETTER was born in 1843, in Germany. He is a son of John and Elisabeth (Fondersmith) Tretter, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to this country in 1845, and located in Dubois County, Ind., where he bought 160 acres in Jackson Township, where he has since lived, and has reached the age of seventy-three years. The mother died August, 1877. The subject of our sketch received a common school education and came to America at the age of three years and made his home with his people until he was twenty-six years old. In October, 1874, he married Philomena Pfaff, a native of France, to whom six children were born: John, Henry, Emma, Charles, Mary and Laura. After marriage he located on an eighty acre tract in Ferdinand Township, which was given him by his father. He is an industrous, hard working man, and by his energy he has added forty acres more to his farm. In politics he is a Democrat. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



ROBERT T. VENEMANN, A.M., M.D., of Ferdinand, Ind., was born in Evansville, Ind., and is a son of Theodore and MAry (Rogers) Venemann, both of whom were natives of Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of twelve years the father went to Evansville, Ind., and while in his teens commenced the study of law. He graduated at St. Joseph’s Collge, Bardstown, Ky., in 1858 and in 1859 he graduated at the Cincinnati Law School. That same year he married, and entered into a partnership with Hon. Charles Denby, the present minister to China. He soon after entered into partnership with his father and brother as agents for railroads and steamships for home and foreign lines, which position he yet holds. He is one of the leading businessmen of Evansville. His wife died April 6, 1866, in her thirty-fifth year. Our subject received his early education at St. Mary’s School in Evansville, and in 1873 he attended the classical department of the University of St. Louis, Mo., but owing to ill health he remained but a short time. He then studied in the Sterling Academy the remainder of the term, and in 1874 he entered St. Mary’s College, Montreal, Canada, and remained one year. In 1875-76 he attended a literary school at Worchester, Mass., and in 1877 he returned to the University of St. Louis, where he graduated June 25, 1879. He then took two courses of lectures at the Medical College in Evansville, graduating March, 1881. In April of the same year he entered into partnership with Dr. E. Linthicum, and began the practice of medicine, in which business he continued for one year. He then entered the Long Island Hospital Medical College of Brooklyn, N.Y.; while there he became acquainted with Jennie A. Gerald, daughter of William H. and Catharine Gerald, of Boston, Mass. They were married April 26, 1882, and have two children: Theo and Gerald. After graduating from that school, the same year as his marriage, he again began his practice, and about the same year was appointed as lecturer on Physiology in the Medical College of Evansville. In June, 1883, he returned to Brooklyn and remained there until November, 1884, when he came to Ferdinand, Ind., where he has since resided. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



JOHN G. WOEBKENBERG, one of the old settlers of Dubois County, Ind., was born May 4, 1830, in Hanover, Germany, is a son of John B. and Margaret (Burlage) Woebkenberg, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to this country in the fall of 1836 and located frist in Baltimore, and afterward in different cities along the Potomac. He finally reached Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained four years. In 1842 he moved to Dubois County, and located on an eighty acre farm in Ferdinand Township. He cleared his land of timber, built him a house and remained on the old place until his death, which occurred Septembe 24, 1850. Our subject’s mother lived with him until her death, August 7, 1869. He received a common school education and worked on the farm at home until his father died. His father willed him the old place, and he (subject) was to pay his two sisters $150 apiece and furnish then with clothing until married. Mary 22, 1851, he married Angela Tepen, to whom eight children were born: Mary, Henry, Anna, Josephine, Bernard, Theodora (deceased), Catharine and Philumina. In 1858 he began teaching, and taught, in all, eight terms. In 1863 he was elected justice of the peace of Ferdinand Township for four years. He was re-elected in 1867 and again in 1871 serving in all twelve years. In 1880 he was elected township trustee of Ferdinand Township for two years and again in 1882, thus forcibly illustrating his efficiency as an officer. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



BERNARD WEYER was born in Dubois County, Ind., March 24, 1851. He is a son of Gerard and Elizabeth (Sassa) Weyer, who were native of Germany. His father came to this country when about thirty-three years of age and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, for three years, when he moved to Dubois County, Ind., and bought 230 acres in Ferdinand Township, where he and his wife now live, at a good old age. Our subject received a common school education and lived with his parents until he was twenty-five years old. February 11, 1879, he married Mary Helming, a native of Germany. To this union were born two children: Frank and Theodora. After marriage he located on a sixty-two acre tract, which is his present home. He now owns 142 acres, 102 of which his father gave him. Mr. Weyer is a hard working industrious man and full of enterprise and push. In politics he is a Democrat, casting his first vote for Tilden and Hendricks. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

"HISTORY OF PIKE AND DUBOIS COUNTIES, INDIANA" CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1885.
Ferdinand Township



Deb Murray