Genealogy Trails


Oil Township
Perry County, Indiana


REV. CHARLES F. BILGER, present pastor of the Church of the Holy Cross, in Oil Township, was born October 15, 1857, at Altbreisach, Baden, Germany. He came with his parents to America, September 20, 1876, being the only son in a family of the following named children, born to Vincent and Caroline (Fietsch) Bilger: Theresc, Manika, Mary Philomena, Bertha, Charles F., Carolina and Ida. Two of these daughters are now inmates of the Ingrubohl Convent in Switzerland. The mother died in Germany, July 17, 1871, and five years later the father, together with his family, immigrated to the United States and settled at St. Meinrad, Ind. Since August, 1880, Mr. Bilger has resided with the subject of this sketch, where he is now located. Father Charles Bilger was liberally educated in the schools of his native country, taking his theological course at St. Meinrad, in this State. He was ordained to the priesthood at Indianapolis, July, 1880, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard. Father Bilger was appointed to his present pastorate soon after he was ordained and it was mainly through his instrumentality and enterprise that a church was here established.
PETER CLUTLNGER was born in Jefferson County, Ky., January 7, 1827 being the son of Peter and Catharine (Bence) Clutinger natives of Loraine and New Bavaria, Germany. They came to America in 1817, and were married in New Orleans, La., and soon after settled in Kentucky, and in 1816 located in Floyd County, Ind., where they reared their family. Our subject after his fourteenth year did for himself, and resided in Kentucky until the age of twenty-three. He then lived in Harrison County eleven years, and in 1861 located in Oil Township, where he now owns 385 acres of fertile land, mostly improved, with food buildings. He has done a large boating business for eight years, le is a Republican in politics and belongs to the order of Masons. He was united in marriage to Miss Angeline, daughter of John and Sarah (Brooks) Campbell, of Clark County, Ind., and natives of North Carolina, January 17, 1849, and to this union nine children have been born, viz.: Clara (now Mrs. John Vaupel), Eliza J. (who married Joseph Wilson), Winfield S., James A. (deceased), Bertha M. (deceased), Oliver P. M.,. Emma A., Hiram J., and Charles B. Mrs. Angelina Clutinger was born May 28, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Clutinger are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the substantial farmers of Perry County. He is a good citizen and neighbor.
JESSE CUNNINGHAM, whose birth occurred June 21, 1836, is a native of this county and one of the following children born to Alexander and Nancy (Archibald) Cunningham: John K., William (deceased), Charles A. (deceased), Susan (who married Rev. Simon Van Winkle), Mary (now Mrs. Rev. J. K. Haskins), Sarah (who wedded Rev. J. C. Van Winkle), Nancy (now Mrs. Alonzo Hicks), Amanda J. (now Mrs. Solomon Mitchell), and Jesse, the latter being the fourth son. The parents were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, were married near Vincennes, Ind., and settled in Clark Township, this county. They soon (1838) located in Oil Township where they lived until their respective deaths. They were Baptists, and the father served as justice of the peace, and was captain of the State militia for many years. Our subject remained with his parents until their deaths and is yet on the old farm. February 18, 1858, he married Martha E., daughter of Thomas J. C. and Sarah (Nix) Bradshaw, and to this union two children have been born as follows: Sarah A. and Nancy J. (deceased). Mrs. Cunningham died October 3, 1863. and February 18, 1866, he married Louisa, daughter of William and Lydia (Crist) Hicks. They have had three children : John William, Carmi S. and an infant (deceased). His second wife died April 20, 1873, and March 6, 1881, he married Mrs. Lavina (Lay) Cissel, who has borne him two children : Jesse L. (deceased) and Norman W. Mr. Cunningham is a farmer and a blacksmith, owning 300 acres. He is a Democrat, has been trustee and county appraiser, hus been in county and state conventions and is prominent in the Baptist Church.
LOUIS P. DUPAQUIER is a native of Louisville, Ky., where he was born December 24, 1849, being the oldest son in a family of seven, five living, viz.: Louis P., Louisa (now Mrs. Grayson Falkenborough), Catharine (who married John Falkenborough), John A. L., and Emile, born to John and Mary (Shoppie) Dupaquier, natives of France and Switzerland. They were married at New Orleans, and soon after located in Louisville where they remained several years. He moved and located in Oil Township in 1852, where he bought land and remained until his death, June 24,1864, aged sixty-three His wife is still living. They were Roman Catholics. Our subject was reared by his parents and received a fair education. He was married to Miss Salastine, daughter of Anthony and Mary (Mullagy) Humbert, and to this union six children were born, viz.: John A., Edward A., Benjamin E., Joseph L., William L. and Mary L. (deceased). Mrs. Salastine Dupaquier was born December 16, 1853. Mr. Dupaquier and his brother Emile are now engaged in general merchandising and in the lumber business on his farm. Our subject owns 303 acres of fair land, partially improved. He is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is a substantial citizen.
HIRAM ESAREY was born April 10, 1813, being the third child in a family of twelve, all living to be grown, viz.: Benjamin M., Matilda, (who married Wyatt Pearson), Hiram, Reason, Jesse C., Isaiah H., Felix, Jonathan D., Verona, (who married Isaac Misner), Nancy A. (now Mrs. Benjamin Carmickle), Jacob, and Mary (who married Simeon Shirkcliff), born to Jonathan D. and Sarah (Sharer) Esarey, natives of Kentucky. They came to Indiana about March, 1812, and settled in Oil Township, where they continued until their deaths. They were Baptists in religious faith and were among the first settlers and substantial farmers of Perry County. Our subject continued at home until his marriage. He only acquired a limited education. He was married to Miss Sophia Walker October 10, 1834, and to this marriage nine children were born, viz: William M., Eliza J., (now Mrs. John S. Frakes), Matilda, (now Mrs. James S. Frakes), Mary A., (who married Greyson Frakes), Sarah, (deceased), Elvira, Martha E., (who married Joseph Harp), Francis E., (deceased), and Nancy, (now Mrs. Fillmore Horton). Mrs. Sophia Esarey was born January 28,1810. Mr. Esarey has retired, having fanned in Perry County forty-nine years. He now resides in Branchville where he owns property. He and wife were pioneer members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the Order of Masons. Mr. Esarey probably did what but few others have done, viz: to make forty-nine continuous crops and make a full summer's work in each. The parents of our subject's wife were Robert and Delilah (Phillips) Walker, who were married in Green County, Ky., and in about 1812 settled in Perry County, Ind. Robert Walker was the first man who died in Oil Township.
JACOB ESAREY, is a native of this county where he was born August 17, 1829. He is the eleventh child in a family of twelve born to Jonathan D. and Sarah (Shaver) Esary. He was reared and educated by his parents, and continued with them until about twenty-five years old, and received a fair education from the schools of his day. He was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Ann, daughter of Andrew and Malinda (Falkenborough) Elder, residents of Pike County, Ind., November 6, 1851, and to this union eleven children have been born, viz.: Sarah F. (now Mrs. John Howe), James J., Jesse D. (deceased), John A., Henry A., Malmda A., Minerva G., Eva E. (now Mrs. John A. L. Dupaquier), Thomas G., Mary E., and Porter H. Mrs. Barbara A. Esarey was born July 28,1832. Mr. Esarey makes farming a specialty. He owns 217 acres of land, mostly improved. He is a Republican in politics and is well and favorably known and esteemed as a citizen and neighbor.
JOHN C. ESAREY is a native of this township, born December 14, 1841. In his father's family were twelve children, eleven as follows: Mary E. (who married John W. Ewing), John C., Sarah (who married Absalom C. Miller), Jonathan D., Hiram M., Jacob A., Felix E., Jesse B., Susannah (now Mrs. John W. Frakes.) James H. and William D. The parents were Jesse C. and Susannah (Hughes) Esarey, the father being a native of this county and the mother of Harrison County, this State. They were married in Crawford County and soon after came to this county, where they lived until their respective deaths. They were prominent people and members of the Methodist Church. John "" remained at home until his marriage with Barbara Ewing, daughter of Samuel and Maria (Falkenborough) Ewing, February 12, 1862. Nine children have been born to this union as follows: John E., Solomon H., Mary J., Marilla L. (deceased), Charles S., Marcus L., Rosaltha E., Olive J. and a son yet unnamed. Mrs. Esarey was born July 27, 1840. Mr. Esarey owns 450 acres, is a Republican and served the township as trustee from 1872 to 1876. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G., Fifty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was honorably discharged June 1865. In 1863 he was commissioned adjutant of the Fifth Regiment of Legion by Gov. Morton.
JOHN S. FRAKES is a native of Perry County, and was born January 27, 1834, being the oldest in a family of two, viz.: John S. and James S., born to Greyson and Mary (Shoemaker) Frakes, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana. They were married in Perry County, where the mother still resides. The father died April 2, 1870. He was born in February, 1809. The father came to Perry County with his father, John Frakes, in 1814. He was one of the prominent citizens and farmers of Perry County. Our subject was reared and educated by his parents and remained at home until his marriage, securing a liberal education. He was united in marriage to Miss Eliza J., daughter of Hiram and Sophia (Walker) Esarey, residents of Oil Township, Perry Co., Ind., September 9,1855, and to this union seven children have been born, viz.: Mary, deceased; Serrepta A., who married Thomas J. Deen ; Martha E. now Mrs. John William Sprinkle ; Malissa A., now Mrs. Thomas Gibson ; Sarah A., deceased; Emma H., who married Charles W. Van Winkle, and Theodore H. Mrs. Eliza Jane Frakes was born May 24, 1837. Mr. Frakes is now engaged in general merchandising, carrying dry goods, groceries, and in connection a complete line of drugs and medicines. He is also postmaster, which position he has held since April, 1876. He has an extensive business. He is a Republican in politics, and belongs to the order of Masons. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN P. GEORGE is a native of Belgium, where he was born March 10, 1848, being the fourth son and ninth child in a family of ten, viz.: Frank, Margaret (deceased), Nicholas, Susan (now Mrs. John Kauffman), Jane (who married Anthony Franchville), Ann (deceased), John N., Catharine (deceased), John P. and Frank J., born to Peter and Margaret (DeVillez) George, natives of Belgium, Province of Luxemberg, where they were married in 1825. They immigrated to America in 1863, and located in Oil Township, where the father died February 8, 1881. He was born in Hachy in 1803. His wife is still living on the old homestead. She was born June 2, 1804, in Nobresart. The parents are Catholics in faith. Our subject was reared and educated by his parents, and at the age of eighteen entered college at St. Meinrad, where he remained three years. This part of his educational expenses was met by himself. He has made teaching a specialty until in 1882, at which time he came home and took charge of the home place, since which time he has given his attention to farming and real estate business, doing most of it in this part of the county. He is the owner of sixty acres of good land, well improved with good buildings. He is a Democrat in politics. He is a gentleman well and favorably known throughout the county. Our subject has visited France, Germany, Holland and England five different times since his majority, and made his first trip in our centennial year.
THOMAS J. GIBSON, is a native of Crawford County, Iml., where he was born September 20, 1852, being the oldest son in a family of nine, viz.: Sarah B. (deceased, who married James H. Eaton), Thomas J., Berthena, (now Mrs. Marshal Land), Charles S., John W., Rovilla, Cnow Mrs. John W. Rolnson), Edward (deceased), Martha E. and James V. M. B., born to William J. and Malinda F. (Shields) Gibson, natives of Kentucky and Indiana. They were married in Crawford County, where they reared their family and still reside. They both are members of the Christian Church, and farmers by occupation. His father, Johnson Gibson, was one of the pioneer settlers of Crawford County, and lived to be one hundred and ten years old. He was a native of Virginia, and served in the war of l812. Our subject was reared by his parents and received a limited education. He, at the age of seventeen, commenced educ;iting himself and at the age of twenty-four had acquired a good academic education. He has followed teaching school every winter since his majority, up to the spring of 1884, at which time he was elected township trustee on the Republican ticket, which office he still holds. He has cleared the township of debt, and now has a surplus for furnishing the schools of the township with improved fixtures. He is a Republican in politics and belongs to the order of Masons. He is the owner of 115 acres of land, mostly wellimproved. He was united in marriage to Miss Melissa A., daughter of John S. and Eliza J. (Esarey) Frakes, of Branchville, March 28, 1875, and to this union two children have been born, viz: Cora May, born December 2, 1880, and Oscar Blaine, born August 30, 1884. Mrs. Melissa A. Gibson was born December 22, 1860. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
HENRY F. LYNCH, is a native of Crawford County, Ind., where he was born February 4, 1814, being the oldest son in a familv of four children, viz: Henry F., Sarah L. (who married Louis Morgan), John (deceased), and George J., born to Jeremiah and Mary E. (Doolittle) Lynch, natives of Crawford County, Ind., and Lower Canada. They were married in Crawford County. The father died in Arkansas where the mother now resides. Our subject remained at home until the age of thirteen, at which time he went to his grandfather's, Samuel Doolittle, where he remained until his enlistment in the service, having received a good common school education. July 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Twenty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, January 5,1864. He was discharged at Indianapolis on July 29, 1865. He was in all the engagements of his regiment, except the battles of Shiloh and Fort Donelson. Returning home he began to farm, which he now follows. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary E., daughter of Levi and Rachel (Hedges) Murphey, September 13,1865, and to this union six children have been born, viz: John L., Olive J., Charles E., William J., Estella M. and Jeremiah. Mrs. Mary E. Lynch was born February 6, 1848. Mr. Lynch makes farming and running machinery a business. He owns 100 acres of land well improved. He and wife are members of the United Brethren in Christ Church. He is a Republican in politics.
FREDERICK W. MARTING, is a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born October 6, 1843. He is the son of John H. and Isabelle (Knauper) Marting, who came to America in 1847, and stopped at Pittsburgh, then at Jackson Furnace, Jackson County, Ohio, and then in New Hampshire Furnace, Greenup Co., Ky. From thence they moved to Jackson Furnace, Ohio, where they remained several years. They then farmed in Scioto County, Ohio, for about twelve years, after which they located in Portsmouth,Ohio, where they entered into the mercantile trade and are still doing business. The mother died the winter of 1877. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was renred and educated by his parents and remained at home until his marriage, securing a liberal education. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John and Condel Craper, March 8, 1866, and to this union have been born eight children, viz: Uriah W., Samuel H., Charles F., Mary A., Martha I., Noah F., Nathan A. and Auios A. Mrs. Elizabeth Marting was born September 7, 1847. Mr. Marting makes farming and stock raising a specialty. He ownes 300 acres of fertile land, fairly improved with good buildings. He is Independent in politics and religion. He is one of Perry County's most respected citizens.
ABSALOM C. MILLER, a native of this county, was born March 24, 1844, being the oldest in a family of nine, viz.: Absalom O, Hinton, Rhoda M. (who married William T. Walters), Mary Ann (now Mrs. Robert Hughes), Sarah (who married Commodore Dixon), Elizabeth J. (now Mrs. David H. Sprinkle), Amanda (deceased), and John, born to John J. and Ruth (Carr) Miller, who were natives of Kentucky. They both came to Indiana with their parents, and were married in Perry County, in February, 1843, where they have remained until the present. They now reside in Oil Township, and are farmers by occupation, owning good property. They are prominent citizens. Our subject was reared and educated by his parents, and remained at home until his marriage, having received a liberal education. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah, daughter of Jesse C. and Susannah (Hughes) Esarey, residents of Oil Township, Perry County, November 27, 1862, and to this union eight children have been born, viz.: Rhoda E. (who married George A. Saddler), infant son (deceased), Lucy J., John M., Martha E., Mary A., Angeline, and Letetia. Mrs. Sarah Miller was born September 3, 1843. Mr. Miller now makes merchandising a specialty. He, in company with Jesse G. Frakes, carries a large stock of dry goods and groceries at Branchville. Mr. Miller does a large business in logs and staves. He is a Republican, and has served the people as township assessor seven years. He belongs to the order of Masons. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
R. K. QUINLIN, is a native of this county, born October 16, 1854, the son of Thomas and Julia (Roach) Quinlin. He was reared and educated by his parents, and commenced to battle with life for himself at the age of sixteen. He worked at saw milling and flat-boating until the age of twenty-two, when he returned home, and February 14, 1830, was united in marriage with Josephine, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Jones, and to this union four children have been born as follows: Mamie, Bertha, Ellen and John. Mr. Quinlin makes farming and stock-raising his business, and now owns a farm of 240 acres, 100 of which is improved. He and wife are Catholics, and upright citizens and good neighbors. In politics he is a Democrat. His father once owned a portion of the land where Tell City now stands. His parents were pioneers of Perry County. Mrs. Josephine Quinlin was born December 6, 1863.
ADEN SPRINKLE, a member of one of the most prominent families of Perry County, was born in this county November 29, 1832, being the second son in a family of seven children born to William and Charlotte (Harten) Sprinkle. The children were named as follows : Elizabeth (deceased, who married J. D. Carr), Michael (deceased), Aden, Rebecca (now Mrs. Hiram Carr), Charlotte (deceased), William and Anthony H. The parents came from North Carolina and Kentucky, were married in Perry County, and here raised their family and died well known and respected. The father died aged eighty-two, and the mother at the age of seventy-five. They were consistent members of the Methodist Church. Aden passed his boyhood with his parents, receiving a fair education, and April 16, 1857, was united in marriage with Sarah C., daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Hall) Lampkin, and to this marriage eleven children have been born: Rebecca M. (now Mrs. S. B. Colby), Michael H., William L. (deceased), Hiram J., Charlotte E., John E., Sarah M. (deceased), William, Carrie E., and two infants (deceased). Mrs. Sprinkle was born January 3, 1838. Mr. Sprinkle owns 500 acres of land. For about six years he has handled an average of about 250,000 staves annually. He is a Republican, a Mason and a useful citizen.
GEORGE B. TOWER was born in Crawford County, Ind., March 7, 1838, being the youngest of two living children, viz.: Sophia (who married Joseph Hoover, and he dying she married Amos Britt), and George B., born to Abraham B. and Delilah (Lynch) Tower, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. They were married in Crawford County, where they reared their family, and continued until their deaths. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was reared and educated by his parents until their deaths, after which he made his way in the world as best he could, and only acquired a limited education. He was united in marriage with Miss Clarrissa, daughter of Melvin H. and Nancy A. (Pavey) Humphrey, September 10, 1876, and to this union four children have been born, viz.: Nancy J., Mary A., George H. and William A. Mrs. Clarrissa Tower was born February 11, 1857. Mr. Tower makes farming and stock raising a specialty. He owns sixty acres of land, mostly well improved. He is a Republican in politics. He is well and favorably known as a citizon and neighbor.
Source: History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana: Goodspeed Bros 1885
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