Sappenfield - Charles
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke
& Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers, 1893) p 531
Charles
W. Sappenfield. This gentleman is one who has met with discouragements and
calamities during his business life, but by his persistent efforts he has
established himself and is profitably engaged at the present time. He is the
son of Mathias Sappenfield, who was born March 12, 1790 in Fayette Co, NC to
Mathias Sappenfield. The last-named gentleman was born in the Carolinas and was
a gallant soldier in the Revolutionary War. He married a Miss Sechrist, and
remained in his native place where he engaged in agriculture. The Sappenfields
were of German ancestry and Matthias, Sr. was one of a family of 12 sons.
Several of these sons came to America and served in the Revolutionary War, one
of them Jacob S, died while in the service on Long Island. Mathias Sappenfield,
the father of our subject, was reared in the Carolinas where he married Miss
Christian Grimes, August 25, 1811. She is a daughter of John and Barbara
Grimes. In 1823 Mr. and Mrs. Sappenfield went to Shelby County, Indiana where
they settled on Flat Rock and there lived about two years and farmed. Two years
after they came to Parke County and settled on the Little Raccoon in what is
now Green Township. Here he entered land from the government and erected a
flour and sawmill, following this occupation and at the same time carrying on
farming. Being one of the very first settlers of this county he was among the
first who worked up a lucrative business and in a short time he was enabled to
erect another mill on the Big Raccoon. This last possession was located on land
in Union Township, which he had entered from the government and finally gave to
his two sons.
The father of our subject lived on the Little Raccoon until his
death, which occurred August 14, 1873. When but a lad he became interested in
religious affairs and in his 18th year joined the German Reformed Church. He
was a brave soldier in the War of 1812, and after coming to this county united
wit the Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he was an intelligent worker and
liberal supporter the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Jacksonian
Democrat. The mother of our subject bore her husband 11 children, of whom 5 are
still living. Three make their homes in this county, Eliza, now Mrs. Martin;
Huber who still lives on the old homestead and Mrs. Henry McDaniel, who lives
in this township. One brother of our subject, Andrew lives in Fairfield, Iowa.
John M. is a resident of Kansas. At the time of his death the father of our
subject had in his possession about 900 acres of land, which he had accumulated
by his own industry and perseverance. He cleared the homestead that he entered
from the government on the Little Raccoon himself and peacefully passed away
August 14, 1873. His wife had been a member of the German Reformed Church since
14 and she, too was called to the better land August 1859 at the age of 63.
Charles W. Sappenfield is a native of Green Township, Parke County and was born
July 9, 1836. He was reared on the homestead, receiving his early education in
the public schools and afterward supplementing it by an attendance at the
Indiana University, from which he graduated with the class of 1863. After he
had completed his education so far he began the study of law under Judge Mack,
of Terre Haute and Oct 19, 1864 entered the senior class of the Law Department
of Michigan University, An Arbor. He here finished his course and graduated the
following spring, after which he began the practice of law at Crawfordsville,
Ind in partnership with his younger brother, EM. Mr. Sappenfield practiced his
profession at that place 3 years but owing to ill health concluded that an
occupation requiring less mental strain would be more beneficial, so he
embarked in the manufacture of pumps at that place. He followed this for 14
years and accumulated quite a fortune which enabled him to purchase a farm in
Parke Co. He located at Bellmore and at once followed his pursuit for 26 years,
during which time he was very successful and prosperous.
After leaving the farm
he moved to Rockville and engaged in shingle manufacturing, which he has
followed since 1889. He finds this a very profitable business making about 5
million shingles a year, which is the result of his good management and hard
work. December 31, 1863, Mr. Sappenfield was wedded to Miss Sarah E, daughter
of John R. and Catharine Seybold, who were early settlers of this county. Miss
Seybold was born in Parke County and here received a common school education
after which she took a course at the academy at Stockville, this state. Her
father was one of the most successful farmers and energetic business men of
this time. Mr. and Mrs. Sappenfield have had 3 children: Charles Frederick,
Mary Catherine and Daisy, the lst named dying at age 8 months. In politics Mr.
Sappenfield is a strong Democrat. Socially is a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows. He is a prominent and consistent member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church, which he attends regularly and liberally supports, giving 10%
of all receipts for the up-building of the cause. he has given his means toward
the erection of two churches in this town besides contributing toward the
rebuilding and repairing of 8 or 10 other edifices. He belongs to Philadelphia
Chapel in Green Township, Parke County and held the office of Treasurer of the
Indiana synod for about 3 years. In his early manhood Mr. Sappenfield made
several inventions, on which he secured patents one of which took a premium at
the Fair at Terre Haute. In 1867 Mr. Sappenfield invented a dray saw on which
he made a great deal of money, and subsequently invented a washing machine,
which he gave to the public, never taking out a patent. When he came here he
started in the shingle business in the large brick building near the depot,
which burned down Dec. 14, 1890. He lost everything he had invested in that business
to the amount of $1400. But Mr. Sappenfield was determined to succeed and not
discouraged by this disaster he again established himself in the same business
with redoubled energy and now is considered one of the most intelligent and
successful business men of the community. kbz