Mr. Johnson was born at Carbondale, Illinois, February 6, 1871, son of David and Ella (Walker) Johnson. His father was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and on coming to America first located at Philadelphia. He was in the stone business there for a short time, and later operated a stone yard at Louisville, Kentucky, in what is now the center of that city. During the Civil war he was enlisted in the Home Guards. Afterwards he removed to Carbondale in Southern Illinois, and a year after the birth of his son John, located at Bedford, Indiana, where he and a brother operated a stone quarry. For a time he was at Indianapolis and later at St. Louis, and on returning to Bedford became superintendent of the Hollowell plant. For three years he was superintendent of the Isaac Davidson Cut Stone Company at Cincinnati and then removed to Louisville, where he spent the rest of his life and where he is buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. The seven children in the family are named Kate, Edward, William, Harrison, Ella, John and Marion.
John Johnson was educated in the grade schools of Indianapolis, at Bedford, and finally at Louisville, Kentucky. When seventeen years of age he was working for his father at Louisville and his first employment as a stone cutter was with the Bedford Stone Works. His journeyman experience took him to many parts of the country and in 1895 he returned to Louisville and conducted a stone mill of his own. For about three years his business headquarters were at Lafayette, Indiana, and then again at Bedford, from which point he worked out over the country. Among other contracts on which he worked was that for the stone works at the state capitol at Frankfort, Kentucky. Mr. Johnson became superintendent and general manager of the Donnelly Mill at Bedford in 1927.
He married in 1916 Miss Caroline Wallhieser, daughter of Jacob Wallhieser. He and his wife are affiliated with the Church of Christ and fraternally he belongs to the B. P. O. Elks.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
CHARLES E. BICKENHEUSER, superintendent and general manager of the McMillen Mil of the Indiana Limestone Company, has spent more than a quarter of a century in work with the great stone industries of Indiana, and his father before him was a pioneer in the business which more than anything else has contributed to the growth of the stone city of Bedford.
Mr. Bickenheuser was born at Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana, December 5, 1887, son of Frank and Kate (Knorr) Bickenheuser. His grandfather, Jacob Bickenheuser, came from Southern Germany, and lived in Cincinnati, where he was connected with the brewing business for many years. He died there and was buried in the Spring Grove Cemetery. Mr. Bickenheuser's mother was born in the mid-Atlantic Ocean while her parents were on the way to America. Frank Bickenheuser was born at Cincinnati, in 1856, learned the trade of stone cutter and carver, and in 1879 located at Bedford, being one of the first men of special skill and artistic ability to work in the famous limestone of this region. During the rest of his active life he followed that work. He and his wife had a family of five children: Clifford, superintendent of the Strubble Mill; Frank, of Tulsa, Oklanhoma; Charles E., Hilda, deceased; and Freda, wife of Leonard George.
Charles E> Bickenheuser had the advantages of the grade school in Bedford until he was fifteen years of age. When he went to work as an apprentice in the stone industry he was with the Deorge Dugan organization, which at that time was cutting its largest contract supplying Indiana limestone for the state capitol at Frankfort, Kentucky. After the completion of his apprenticeship he became a foreman in the G. Ittenbach Stone Company at Indianapolis, and after two years was promoted to general superintendent and remained with that organization thirteen years. For two years he was with the J. Hoadley Stone Company at Bloomington, as superintendent of one of its plants. Then returning to Bedford, he took charge of the plant then being erected by W. McMillen & Son, who had just entered the cut stone business. Mr. Bickenheuser had designed this mill, which, like many others in the Bedford district, was combined in the merger of 1926, when all the mills became subsidiary operating plants of the Indiana Limestone Company. Mr. Bickenheuser has been retained as the superintendent and general manager of the McMillen Mill.
He married, November 14, 1907, Miss Nellie Naugle, daughter of John and Mary (Bishop) Naugle. Her father was also one of the early men in the stone industry of Bedford. Mr. and Mrs. Bickenheuser have three children: Robert, William and Esther. The two youngest children are attending school. Robert married Gertrude Book and has a son, Frederick. Mr. Bickenheuser is a member of the First Christian Church and the B.P.O. Elks.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
ANTHONY STEVENSON. The distinction of being the oldest individual in active service in any sheriff's office in the State of Indiana was held by Anthony Stevenson, of rockport, former sheriff of Spencer County, and more recently deputy sheriff. Although he has reached the age of eighty-eight years, this remarkable man is still active in both mind and body and carries on his daily routine of duties with the energy, ability and enthusiasm of men many years his junior. He has led an extremely active and useful life and has earned a rest from his labors, but his spirit and vitality will not allow him to cease being an active factor in the busy affairs going on about him.
Mr. Stevenson was born January 17, 1843, near Huntingburg, Dubois County, indiana, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Madison) Stevenson. His father, John Stevenson, was born in Scotland, February 27, 1812, and came to the United States at the age of nineteen years, after a stop-over of one year in Nova Scotia. A mining engineer by profession, he resided in Pennsylvania for some time, and in 1837 opened the first coal mine on the Ohio Rier, at Hawsville, Kentucky. Later he opened the coal mines at Bonharbor and in 1846 constructed a railroad thereto, but subsequently sold these to Barrett & Triplett, and in 1854 settled on a farm in Spencer County. In 1861 Mr. Stevenson opened the coal mines near Rockport, which he sold to Spear, Ross & Company, of Evansville, in 1864, and then settled in Rockport, where he continued to make his home until his death in 1881. Mr. Stevenson was a man of the highest character, who bore an excellent reputation in business circles and took a helpful and constructive part in civic and public affairs. He married Elizabeth Madison, who was born in Devonshire, England, and was brought to the United States in girlhood, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom two are still living: James, born in 1844, who is now a resident of Texas, and Anthony, of this review; Anna, born in 1846, was the widow of James Taylor and died in 1930, as did also Elizabeth, born in 1848, the wife of John Feher.
Anthony Stevenson received his early education in the public schools of Indiana and Kentucky, and this was supplemented by a course in bookkeeping at Poughkeepsie, New York, following which he secured employment as superintendent of a coal mine at Rockport, owned by his father, and held this position for four years, or until the mines were sold. He was eighteen years of age at the outbreak of the war between the states, and he greatly desired to join the Union army in the field, but the Government was greatly in need of coal at the time, and Mr. Stevenson was prevailed upon to join the Home Guard and exert his energies in coal production. For two years Mr. Stevenson was engaged in the produce business at Rockport, and then began steamboating on the Tennessee River, being superintendent of the line and first clerk of the S. S. Rapidan No. 1. He then took charge of his father's farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for five years, and in 1872 was elected sheriff of Spencer County, holding office for two terms of two years each by reason of his reelection in 1874. Mr. Stevenson, at the expiration of his term, bought a farm six miles from Rockport, on which he lived for thirty years ans was very successful as an agriculturist. In the meantime he also engaged in the business of flatboating, and from 1877 until 1887 was the owner of fifty-one flatboats and during this time never had an insurance claim. In 1886 Mr. Stevenson again entered public life, having been elected auditor of Spencer County, a capacity in which he served with the greatest efficiency for four years. In 1891 he was appointed examiner in the department of justice, where his duties included the examining of clerks, district attorneys, United States commissioners and other officials, acting in that capacity for four years. After buying more land he returned to his farm, where he remained until 1910, and then sold his property and settled permanently at Rockport, where he was engaged in the tobacco leaf business from 1906 to 1920. In 1927, his grandnephew, who was then sheriff of Spencer County, was shot and wounded while in the performance of his duty, and was in an Evansville hospital for several months and later committed suicide as a result of mental depression growing out of his injures, and Mr. Stevenson too charge of the office. He continued as deputy to March, 1930, and performed all of the clerical work of the office. Mr. Stevenson is a stanch Democrat in his political allegiance, belongs to the Christian Church, and is a member of Rockport Lodge No. 112, A. F. and A. M. He owns his own home and other real estate, as well as city and road bonds, and is accounted one of the financially strong men of the community.
On December 16, 1863, at Rockport, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage with Miss Fannie D. Bullock, daughter of George B. and Emmeline (Druery) Bullock, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. Mr. Bullock, who was for many years engaged in contracting and building, was also prominent in public affairs and served at various times as township trustee and county commissioner. To Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson there have been born nine children: Emma, born in 1865, who married George Feltman, of Evansville; Elizabeth, born in 1867, the widow of Herbert Wells, a civil engineer, county surveyor and agriculturist; Anna, born in 1869, the wife of Samuel Shoemaker, a farmer of Spencer County; Archibald, born in 1871, who died at the age of fifty-four years; George B., born in 1873, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits; Robert, born in 1875, who makes his home with his father;
Edward, born in 1879, who died at the age of five years; Jennie, born in 1880, the wife of Jacob T. Harrison, a foreman on construction work for the United States Government; and William, born in 1883, who is engaged in farming in Spencer County. Most of the family belongs to the Methodist Church.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
HIRAM DANNER. Belonging to that type of individuals who have exercised industry and native talent in the development of their lives, Hiram Danner, of Fort Wayne, can accurately be called a self-made man. He began his independent career with only ordinary advantages, a public school education and a firm determination to make the most of his opportunities, and through the possession of the qualities noted, along with perception, judgmet and quick action, has built up what is probably the largest house-moving, wrecking, reaising and shoring business in Northern Indiana, and like wise is a dealer in building material, a realtor and a home builder.
Mr. Danner, the son of V. T. Danner, was born on a farm in Paulding County, Ohio, July 17, 1878, and his education was acquired principally in the rural schools of his native community. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, but he had no liking for the life of a farmer, and when he reached the age of twenty-one years left the parental roof and came to Fort Wayne, where, being willing and industrious, he soon found work and was variously employed during the next six years. At the end of this time, in 1905, he decided on a business venture of his own, and invested his small, hard-earned capital in a modest dairy business, retailing milk and butter to the residents of the city. So excellent was the quality of his product and so industrious, faithful and obliging did he prove himself that he soon found his patronage growing by leaps and bounds, and he added to and modernized his equipment and hired assistants. Eventually he became the owner of a large and important dairy enterprise, which came to be considered as one of Fort Wayne's valuable community commercial assets, and this he operated until 1920, when the magnitude of his other interests made it necessary for him to dispose of his retail dairy products business.
In 1915 Mr. Danner embarked in the real estate business and in the buying and selling of homes. He soon found that it was less expensive to move buildings and residences himself than to hire others to do it and accordingly he purchased moving equipment. In time he was being called upon by others to do their moving for them, and this formed the nucleus for his present large and prosperous business. At this time he makes a specialty of house moving, the wrecking of old buildings, raising and shoring, and the handling of new and used building material of all kinds. His equipment is now thoroughly motorized and his operations extend far beyond the limits of Fort Wayne, where he maintains offices and an up-to-date plant and yard at 2529 East Pontiac Street. Mr. Danner is the owner of several homes and has built and sold many new residences at Fort Wayne. He has been a very busy man during his entire career, but is not merely a business drudge, for he enjoys the companionship of his fellows and belongs to a number of organizations. He has always shown himself a man of public spirit.
On August 22, 1901, at Fort Wayne, Mr. Danner was united in marriage with Miss Martha Barnhart, who was born here, a daughter of C. W. Barnhart . To this union there have been born four children: Bernice, the wife of L. S. Bumgardner, who has five children, Betty Jane, Marjorie Mae, Mildred Irene, Delores Ann and Mary Louise; Irma, the wife of A. M. White, who has two daughters, Ellen Elain and Miriam Lou; Everett, at home and attending public school; and Annabelle, also at home and a public school student.
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INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
ROBERT W. RICHARDS. Of the men who have contributed to the prestige and prowess of Spencer County as an industrial, commercial and agricultural center during recent years, few are entitled to greater recognition than Robert W. Richards, oil operator, promoter, grain farmer and public-spirited citizen of Rockport. Mr. Richards has led a singularly busy life and his career has led him into various avenues of activity, in which he has shown his versatile abilities, sound judgement and far-sightedness. Moreover, he has won success with honor and without animosity, and has managed to hold the friendship of even his most determined adversaries in the business world.
Mr. Richards was born May 27, 1870, on a farm in Spencer County, Indiana, and is a son of Robert M. and Harriet (Kerns) Richards. His father, a native of Ohio, was but a young child when brought to Indiana by his parents, who were among the earliest settlers of Spencer County, in 1849. He was educated and reared in the rural districts and toward the close of the war between the states, was serving as a member of the Home Guards, was wounded in a skirmish. He passed the rest of his life in agricultural operations, and died in 1888, greatly respected and esteemed. Robert M. Richards married Harriet Kerns, a native of Spencer County, and they became the parents of ten children: One who died in infancy; Ellen, who died at the age of sixteen years; John, a farmer, who died at the age of seventy-one years' George, who died on the home farm when twenty-one years of age; Hiram, who was associated with his father in farming on the home place until his death at the age of twenty-eight years; Frank, who was a real estate man and died when sixty-nine years of age; William, born in 1866, who is engaged in the real estate and loan business at Chickasha, Oklahoma; Kate, who died at the age of twenty-six years, as the wife of Wayne Martin; Fredonia, born in 1859, who is the widow of N. E. Palmer, a brick and tile manufacturer, and has two children; and Robert W., of this review.
The eighth in order of birth of his parent's children, Robert W. Richards acquired his early education in the public schools, and was reared on the home farm, where he took charge when about eighteen years of age, at the time of his father's death. When he was about twenty-two years of age he began the operation of a grain elevator in partnership with the late P. R. Hardy, and following his partner's death took over the business, which he operated alone, in addition to buying and marketing all of the tobacco raised by the farmers of his locality. He has continued to be engaged in this line of work ever since and with the passing of the years has acquired other interests, at this time being the owner of large oil interests, and much real estate. He was likewise president and principal stock holder of the old Rockport State Bank, and is one of the soundest men financially in his part of the state. He has a splendid reputation for integrity in his business dealings, and as a citizen has given his unqualified support to every movement making for the betterment of Rockport and Spencer County. A Republican in his political allegiance, he has been in no sense an office-seeker, but has not been indifferent to the responsibilities of citizenship and for four years served capably in the capacity of auditor of Spencer County. Fraternally he is affiliated with Rockport Lodge No. 112, A. F. and A. M., and the Knights of Pythias, in both of which he has numerous friends.
On March 4, 1894, in Spencer County, Mr. Richards was united in marriage with Miss Maud M. Rhodes, daughter of Charles L. and Nancy (Johnson) Rhodes, the former a native of Warrick County, Indiana who spent his career as an agriculturist. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of two children:
Arnett E., born in 1897, manager of his father's office, who married Mary Guard Kellams, daughter of W. W. Kellams, retired owner of the Rockport Democrat; and Lucille, born in 1907, a graduate of Northwestern University, who took a degree in dramatic art, was a teacher in the Rockport public schools, in 1929 became a student in the School of Speech of the University of California, at Berkeley, and is now teaching in the Rockport High School.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
MARSHAL H. HALL, who is now successfully engaged in the insurance and bond business at Mount Vernon, judicial center of Posey County, was born on the parental home farm, in Black Township, this county, December 16, 189. He is the youngest in a family of six children, and was doubly orphaned when he was about ten years of age. He is a son of John R. and Lavina (Bradley) Hall, the former of whom was born in North Carolina and thence came to Indiana when he was sixteen years of age, and the latter of whom passed her entire life in Posey County, where she died in 1862, when her son Marshal, of this review, was not yet three years of age. John T. Hall continued as a substantial exponent of farm enterprise in Posey County until his death, April 7, 1869. The six children were Medora, Lawrence, Edward, Mary E., William and Marshal H. Mary E. became the wife of Marion Whipple, and after his death became the wife of Aaron Greathouse, who likewise is deceased, and she died in November, 1929.
Marshal H. Hall was about ten years of age at the time of his father's death and was reared to manhood on the home farm in Black Township, where also he received the advantages of the schools of the period. He continued his active alliance with farm industry until 1866, when he found employement in a planing mill. Later he became custodian of the county courthouse at Mount Vernon, and after serving as deputy sheriff of his native county he was elected, in 1912, to the office of county sheriff, in which his loyal and efficient administration continued until January 1, 1918, when he retired. He has since been engaged in the general insurance and bond business at Mount Vernon, and his operations have been successful, both by reason of the effective service and his hold upon popular confidence and esteem in the community.
Mr. Hall gives his political alledgiance to the Democratic party, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in their home city, and in the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he has passed the various official chairs. In the World war period he served as chairman of the Posey County draft board and was otherwise influential in local patriotic activities.
On February 20, 1884, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Russell, daughter of John and Ellen (Darwood) Russell, who were born in England and who became honored citizens of Posey County, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hall had three children: John W., who was born in 1884 and who is engaged in the cleaning and pressing business at Mount Vernon, married Miss Nellie Raben, and their one child, Ruth, was graduated in the Mount Vernon High School as a member of the class of 1929. Ina B., born in 1889, the second child, died in 1926. Orvan R., who was born in the year 1900, and who is now city editor of the Mount Vernon Daily Democrat,
married Miss Elzada Burrows, and they are popular factors in the social life of their home community.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
ELDREN E. FIELD. The many industries and large farm interests of Gibson County, Indiana, demand sound banking institutions to insure continued commercial prosperity, and one of these held especially trustworthy is the National Bank of Patoka, of which Eldren E. Field, one of Patoka's substantial young business men, is cashier. Mr. Field is a descendant of one of the old pioneer families of Gibson County and has practically spent his life here, and for twenty years has been identified with the National Bank of Patoka.
Eldren E. Field was born on his father's farm in Gibson County, April 3, 1889, second son of Robert A. and Fanny (Newsum) Field, both of whom are deceased, the father dying in 1921 and the mother in 1914. Mr. Field has three brothers: Elmer, Miletus and Walter, all well established business men and respected citizens. He received a public school education and then spent several years as a farmer. In November, 1909, he found an opening as a clerk in the National Bank of Patoka, and has continued with this financial institution ever since, each year becoming more and more a necessary factor in the management, and in 1920 was made cashier. His sound business reputation and high personal character being known all over the county, his occupancy of his present position give the bank added prestige. In addition to his financial interests Mr. Field owns a valuable farm of 500 acres.
The marriage of Mr. Field took place April 22, 1914, when he was united with Miss Lillian Stalcup, a daughter of Eli Stalcup, of Gibson County. Mr. and Mrs. Field have two children: Byron, who was born January 11, 1915; and Billie J., who was born January 17, 1917, both of whom are attending school, and giving promise of developing into young people of decided talents. It is the intention of their parents to give them excellent educational advantages, and they are being reared with watchful care.
During the World war Mr. Field was a zealous participant in the different drives of Gibson County, and worked hard for the Liberty Loan and other war securities, the Red Cross and all war organizations, and his own contributions and purchases were unusually generous. He and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian Church of Patoka, and active in all of the good work carried on by that body. Fraternally he is a Blue Lodge Mason and a Woodman of the World. Mr. Field numbers among his friends a goodly number of the entire population of the county, as his banking connections have brought him into personal contact with so many, as have his social and fraternal activities. He is a straight, up-standing business man of the type that make themselves felt in any community by sheer force of character, and who always forge ahead no matter what the obstacles. He is honored and respected for his integrity and worth, and his popularity is well deserved.
INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 5
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931
