52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Week 33

We are talking about Family Legends in this week’s writing prompt. A couple of legends come to mind. The first is that my great-grandfather Michael J. Crusham came to the United States because he was fleeing the law after being accused of stealing a horse. I’ve found no evidence of this being the case. The second is that my great-great grandfather served in the Civil War. I’ve written about Micheal W. Cramer in the past, which you can read here. Unless he was a super-young member of the drum and bugle corp, I don’t think he was in the war.

So what to write about? How about a family that became a legend in the business of death, among other things? My paternal 3rd great-grandfather Wilhemus (William) Hillenbrand was born 7 March 1811 in Frankenthal, Germany. He was the youngest of 6 children born to Andreas and Gertrude (Walter) Hillenbrand. While I have not located his immigration information, I found a general land office certificate that indicates that on 16 March 1837 William Hillenbrand of Ohio County, Virginia purchased 80 acres located in the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 31 in Township 10 north of Range 13 East in Ripley County, Indiana. When William bought the land, he was already married to Maria Barbara Schantz, and the couple had one daughter named Elizabeth, who was born in 1835 in Ohio County, Virginia. The couple eventually had a total of 9 children.

John Hillenbrand

The oldest son of William and Maria was John Hillenbrand, my 3rd great-uncle. Born 18 February 1843 on the family farm in Ripley County, Indiana, John was quite an enterprising young man. Reportedly he owned 16 sawmills by the age of 18, which was his age when his father died in 1861. On 12 May 1863, John married Margaret Herr in Dearborn, Indiana and they had 8 children, 4 of whom lived to be adults. In 1876 he and his family left the farm to move to Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana where he opened a general store with his brother William.

Batesville was platted on 3 November 1852. Born and raised in the area, John was a member of the first town council of Batesville, and served as postmaster of the town during President Grover Cleveland’s second administration.

After a local furniture plant in Batesville was destroyed by fire, John purchased the property, and rebuilt and expanded the facility. He thus founded the American Furniture Company in 1879, one of the most substantial industrial enterprises in Batesville. He kept his hand in the mercantile business, and in 1888 he bought his brother out and formed the Hillenbrand & Mitchell Company with one of his son-in-laws. The business continued to expand with its lumber and sawmill operations.

The Batesville Water Works Company was founded by John in 1901, and in 1906 he purchased the Batesville Casket Company, with active management of this enterprise being turned over to his son, John Adam Hillenbrand. He also organized the Batesville Electric Light & Power Company, and his son John Adam served as the President.

Batesville Casket Company is still in operation today as a subsidiary of Hillenbrand Industries, along with Block Medical, Inc.; The Forethought Group, Inc.; Hill-Rom Company, Inc.; and Medeco Security Locks, Inc., employing over 6,000 people world-wide (1,200 locally) and with revenue of 1.6 billion. Numerous people and institutions have benefited from the philanthropy of Hillenbrand family members and/or the foundation set up by Hillenbrand Industries. A few examples include:

• George & Sophia Hillenbrand donated the land for Liberty Park in Batesville
• Margaret Herr Hillenbrand donated money to build Margaret Mary Hospital on land that was gifted by her son, George M. Hillenbrand
• The Batesville Memorial Public Library was built on land donated by John Adam Hillenbrand
• Memorial Pool and Southeastern Indiana YMCA were built with donations from the family
• John Adam Hillenbrand donated land to St. Louis Catholic Church for a new school

I think it is safe to say that the Hillenbrand family members and their businesses are legends in Ripley County, Indiana - and beyond.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 16

On her application for a marriage license on 23 July 1912, Lillian Hungler stated that she was living at 928 Wells Street, which was the home of her grandparents Michael and Anna (Willard) Cramer. Wells Street was in the East Price Hill neighborhood. She listed her employment as a saleslady. She further indicates that she was 18 on 22 October 1911, which was inaccurate. In fact, she was just 16 on that date. While it is possible she did not know her birth year, it is more likely she put that on the application in order to avoid the issues that came along with being a minor trying to get married.

Joseph Kubler, on the same application, was living at 1523 Cutter and his occupation was a conductor. Cutter was located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood near downtown Cincinnati. As the city directories show him to be employed as a clerk, it is probable that he was a band conductor as opposed to a conductor on a train. Joseph was quite musically inclined, and involved with musicians throughout the years.

The newlyweds set up their household at 525 David Street in the Over-the-Rhine district, and on 5 September 1913 daughter Ethel joined the family. This child was no doubt named for Joseph's baby sister who died when she was 10 months old.  Just one month after the birth of his first child, Joseph lost his mother Louisa. The family stayed in this home for three years before moving to 509 Clinton Street, and during the years on David Street, Joseph was employed as a driver.

A son, LeRoy, was born on 29 June 1917. By the 1920 census, they lived on 15th Street and Joseph was employed as a traveling salesman in the shoe polish industry. Between 1921-1926, Joseph was an insurance agent. Daughter Mary Jane was born on 10 April 1925, and by the 1930 census the family was on Bauer Street and Joseph was again employed as a salesman, this time for the coffee business. Later that year the baby of the family, Gloria, was born.

1937 flood

Like most of America, Cincinnati had its share of problems during the great depression of the 1930s. But other cities did not have to also cope with a major natural disaster at the same time. The Cincinnati flood of 1937 was the result of record-breaking rainfall amounts. The Ohio River crested at 79.9 feet. Flood stage for the river is 52 feet. One-fifth of the City of Cincinnati was under water. No matter what Joseph was selling in his job at that time, between the depression and the flood things must have been tight for the family. Fortunately they had moved out of the downtown area to Price Hill by this point, so their home was not impacted by the flood.

Lillian and Joseph in 1958

In the 1940 federal census Joseph was still showing salesman as his occupation. But inside he always had a desire to own his own business. An opportunity came his way when Jim's Pony Keg went up for sale. Somewhat unique to southwestern Ohio, a pony keg was a small store tucked away in a neighborhood that sold beer, wine, tobacco products, pop, candy, chips and other small items. Located at 112 Monitor in the Sayler Park community, Joseph operated a delicatessen in the location as well. He held onto the store until 1965, selling it when he was 74.

Joseph and Lillian celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962. Mass was said at St. William Church in Price Hill, and a reception followed in the church hall. All of their children, grandchildren, and many relatives and friends came to congratulate the couple on a momentous milestone in their lives.

50th wedding anniversary

Joseph's stone

On 29 June, 1969, his son LeRoy's birthday, Joseph died of congestive heart failure at the age of 77. He had been hospitalized for 5 weeks for the condition. His attending physician was his daughter Mary Jane's husband, Kevin McGann. Joseph's highest education completed was 8th grade, yet throughout his working years he always managed to keep a roof over the head of his family, and food on the table. He was very good with people, which lent itself well to working in sales and ultimately owning his own business. He was greatly mourned when he passed.

Note: Joseph's headstone has the incorrect year of birth. He was born in 1891.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 15

In a previous post, which you can find here, it was revealed that my grandfather Joseph Henry Kubler, lost his father Henry in 1902 when he was only 10. It must have been very difficult for him to face such grief at such a young age. How did he feel when, a year and a half later, his mother married Charles Brinkman? Perhaps he welcomed the half brother who was born when he was 15.

In 1905 when his paternal grandmother, Josephine (Hillenbrand) Kubler died, she left her grandson Joseph $100. Today that is equivalent to around $2,600. Some in the family might have questioned that amount of money as she left a LOT more than that to her three surviving sons. Since Joseph's father Henry had pre-deceased Josephine, it certainly might have been felt that Joseph should have gotten his father's 1/4 share in the estate.

Music Hall

In 1910, Joseph was living with his mother, stepfather and half brother in Cincinnati. Joseph was employed as a clerk in a liquor retail house. Apparently he was quite a roller skater when he wasn't working because in 1910 he entered the Ohio Championship, which was a one-mile race at Music Hall Rink in Cincinnati. The race drew amateur skaters from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky to determine who would be the tri-state champion. The Cincinnati Music Hall stands at the corner of 14th and Elm Streets, and was opened in 1878. It housed musical activities in the center area, and industrial expositions in its side wings. It was in the north wing that the roller skating race was held. The racers were competing for gold, silver and bronze medals.

St. Lawrence Church

Two years later, at the age of 21, Joseph was married to 16-year-old Lillian Marie Hungler. Their wedding took place on 24 July 1912 at St. Lawrence Church. Lillian was born to Albert Hungler and Catherine (Cramer) Hungler in Cincinnati on 22 October 1895. She was the oldest of four children, though only she and her younger sister Alice lived to adulthood. Lillian was 1 when her brother Corry was born, and 2 when twins Alice and Albert came along. Corry died as an infant, and Catherine Hungler lost her battle with tuberculosis on 16 April 1900. She was not yet 23 years old.

Michael and Anna Cramer

Albert Hungler found himself a widower at the age of 30 with a 4-year-old and two 3-year-olds to rear. So that he could continue to work as a laborer, he and the children moved in with Catherine's parents, Michael and Anna (Willard) Cramer, where they appear in the 1900 census record. As if the grief of losing Catherine weren't enough for the family to deal with, little Albert died of tuberculosis on 10 October 1900. How devastating this must have been.

But Albert found love again and married Matilda Stritzinger on 10 May 1906. Albert and Matilda went on to have 8 children. Lillian remained living with her grandparents, while Alice stayed with her dad and his new wife.

Lillian and sister Alice

Certainly Joseph and Lillian would have had a lot in common in that they both had lost a parent at a young age, and both of their parents remarried and started second families. Did Lillian marry at such a young age because she was eager to escape the household of her grandparents?

Family History Writing Challenge Day 14

The third son of Joseph and Josephine Kubler, John, was 16 when his mother married John Frederick. After three publications in the St. Gabriel parish records, Father Rudolf married 23-year-old John and 20-year-old Elenora Michael on 9 September 1896. Elenora was born to Florentine Michael and Mary (Norton) Michael in Indiana on 20 June 1876. She was the youngest of 9 children.

John and Elenora had their first child, Mary, on 27 July 1897 in Connersville. In the 1900 federal census for Indiana, John is the proprietor of a saloon in Connersville. Unlike the other men in his family who were all wood carvers, John took a different path for a career. Perhaps he was inspired by his father during the years when Joseph owned a grocery store. By 1910 he is a merchant in a grocery store.

When he completed the World War I Draft Registration Card on 12 September 1918, John indicated that he was blind in both eyes, yet he owned his own grocery. My dad remembered meeting "Uncle Johnny" and visiting him in Connersville. He was amazed the John not only worked, but owned his own business even while blind. That left a life-long impression on him.

John and Elenora's only child Mary was married to Clarence White on 7 October 1919, and in the 1920 census the newlyweds were living with John and Elenora. John was managing a grocery store, and Clarence was an inspector at an automobile factory. It is interesting to note that between 1905-1941, 13 different kinds of cars were made in Connersville.

Elenora died on 13 October 1928 in Connersville. By 1930, John was living with Mary, Clarence and their children. He would spend the rest of his life in this living arrangement.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 13

Joseph and Josephine Kubler's second son, William, was 19 when his mother married John Frederick in 1889. William was a wood carver just like his grandfather, father, and brother Henry. On 14 May 1894 he married Nellie Young in Connersville. Their officiant was Father Rudolf of St. Gabriel's Church. A daughter, Pearl, was born 1 August 1895, and a son Leslie on 10 November 1896.

William and Nellie lived in Connersville until at least 1917. By the 1920 federal census they were located in Los Angeles, while their daughter Nellie along with her husband and son were living in Detroit. Son Leslie lived with his sister and her family in Michigan.

William worked as a wood carver in a factory. The 1930 census indicated that their 14-year-old grandson William McCormick (daughter Pearl's child) was now living with them in Los Angeles.  Pearl was divorced and renting an apartment in San Francisco in the 1930 census. She was employed as a saleslady in a department store.

William and Nellie lived the remainder of their lives in California. Nellie died 25 January 1937 in Los Angeles. She was 62. She is buried in Roosevelt Memorial Park Cemetery. William lived to the age of 73, passing on 27 November 1843 in Contra Costa, California. He was still living in Los Angeles when he was 71, but perhaps he moved to the San Francisco area to be close to his daughter Pearl as he neared the end of his life.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 12

Father Rudolph

At the age of 22, four years after the death of his father Joseph, Henry Kubler (my great-grandfather) married 20-year-old Louisa Boegel. On 18 January 1891, Father Rudolph joined the couple in Holy Matrimony at St. Gabriel's Church in Connersville. The priest offered a "dispensation from the impediment of mixed religion", as the bride was not Catholic. Louisa was born in Cincinnati in July of 1871 to Johann Boegel and Sophie (Suhre) Boegel, who were both from Westfalen, Prussia. Louisa was the 4th of 7 children born to Johann and Sophie.

Louisa was employed as a tailoress in Cincinnati when she and Henry met. It would be interesting to know how they met as Henry was working as a wood carver - a trade he no doubt learned from his father - in Connersville. He and Louisa not only married in Connersville, but they also set up their household in that community of around 4,500 people. Perhaps it was because Louisa was expecting when they got married. Their son Joseph Henry Kubler was born in Connersville on 22 July 1891. He was joined in August of 1894 by a sister named Ethel. Unfortunately, Ethel died on 3 June 1895 in Indianapolis.

Later in 1895 the family of 3 had settled in Cincinnati. His mother was married to her second husband and had a small child, so Henry must have felt comfortable leaving her behind. His two brothers were still in the area to look after her in the case she needed anything. Henry continued his occupation as a wood carver in Cincinnati, and then became a painter. Louisa was again working as a tailoress.

Henry Kubler's stone

On 11 February 1902, Henry died of an abscess of lung complicated by lobar pneumonia. He was just 34 years old. His burial preparations were handled by a funeral home in Connersville, and he was buried at City Cemetery there in the Kubler plot alongside his father and younger brother Alfred.

At the age of 31, Louisa found herself a widow with a 10-year-old son to care for on her own. It wasn't long before she found a help-mate in Charles Brinkman, and they were married on 9 November 1903 in Cincinnati. A son, Charles, was born to the couple on 6 January 1907.

Family History Writing Challenge Day 11

On Sunday morning, 19 September 1886, Joseph and his family attended Mass at St. Gabriel's Church. It was there that Joseph dropped dead of a heart attack. His obituary stated that he seemed to be in the best of health and spirits that morning, and that the sudden death of this prominent citizen was a shock to the whole community. It further elaborated that Mr. Kubler was a man of many good qualities; always kind and agreeable to his neighbors, and a kind husband and father.

Joseph Kubler stone

Joseph was only 38 years old, coincidentally the same age as Josephine's mother when she died. Josephine became a widow at 34 and their sons were the following ages: Henry, 18; William, 16; and John, 13.

The Indianapolis News reported on 12 December 1887 that Mrs. Josephine Kubler of Connersville sued Herman Jones for $10,000 damages for an alleged rape committed the last July. The defendant was fined $400 for the rape.

On 20 October 1889, three years and one month after the death of Joseph, Josephine married John Frederick. Father Rudolph of St. Gabriel's again officiated the ceremony. The couple welcomed a son, Claude, to the family on 19 November 1892 when Josephine was 40. Sometime before 13 July 1899, John Frederick either died or the couple was divorced. Because on that date Josephine married Francis Ashton in St. Joseph, Michigan. It was the first marriage for Francis, who was 10 years younger than Josephine. St. Joseph is 230 miles away from Connersville where Josephine and Francis were both living, so that is an interesting choice as they were married there by a Justice of the Peace.

Joseph and Josephine's son Henry (my great-grandfather) married Louis Boegel in Connersville in 1891, son William married Nellie Young in Connersville in 1894, and son John married Elenora Michael in 1896 also in Connersville. More details on the boys will be covered in the next post.

Josephine wrote up her will on 21 November 1902. In it, she left her money and possessions to each of her surviving children and grandchildren, as well as the sum of $4,000 to her 3rd husband. Additionally, she specified that $1,000 and all her diamonds and jewelry were to go to her son, Claude, who was a minor of 10 when his mother had the will drawn up. Josephine nominated her son John to be the guardian of the person and estate of Claude until he arrived at the age of 21. Son William was named the executor. She had quite a nice estate, a portion of which may have come from her previous marriages. But she was also part of the Hillenbrand family from Batesville, Indiana who had built quite an industry from the land and forests in the area. It is quite possible that she had some family money as well. Or did she end up getting the $10,000 rape settlement?

She died before May of 1905 as that is when her husband Francis filed papers with the Fayette County Circuit Court renouncing  and waiving all of his rights as surviving husband of the deceased Josephine Ashton beyond what Josephine had outlined in her will in 1902. Did Josephine enact an early prenuptial agreement with husband number 3?

Family History Writing Challenge Day 10

Joseph Kubler and his family were still in Louisville as late as 1869 where he appeared in the City Directory. A second son, William, was born to him and Josephine on 1 May 1870. Multiple census records indicate that William was born in Tennessee, as does a California death index (the state where William died.) However, the 1870 federal census for Indiana shows Josephine Kubler, along with Henry and William, living in Laughery Township, Ripley County. That record has Indiana as the state of William's birth. Joseph is not listed in this record, nor does he appear in a census in Kentucky or Tennessee.

Did Joseph and Josephine separate so soon after the birth of their second child? Or was something else going on that Joseph felt it best to send Josephine and his children back to her hometown? Josephine was living on the same street as her sister Maryann and her family, which would have been helpful to her with a 2 year old and a new baby. What is known is that Joseph and Josephine had a third child together on 15 August 1873; son John was born in Indiana. By 1877 the family had moved to Connersville in Fayette County, Indiana, and that is where son Alfred was born in September of 1877. Joseph was supporting his family as a wood carver.

St. Gabriel's

The family worshipped at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Connersville. The parish was formed in 1851, and a school was opened in 1873. Plans for a larger church were begun in 1874, and the new church opened in 1884. The Kubler family would have attended services in both churches. Father F. J. Rudolf was the parish priest for much of the time period the family was in the area.

In 1883, Joseph opened a grocery and provision store at the corner of Central Avenue and First Street. Offering a general line of groceries and items such as teas, coffees, spices, tobacco and cigars, it was noted in an article that Mr. Kubler "...has built up his present prosperous and lucrative business, and earned an enviable reputation as a conscientious and upright merchant, whose representations will always be found to accord strictly with the facts." It is interesting, then, that two years later he sold the business to Adam Frank. Perhaps the death of his son Alfred, at the age of 8 years, was simply more than he could handle.