SAPPENFIELD, Charles W.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of
Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers, 1893)
Page 531 - Contributed by Karen Zach
SAPPENFIELD - 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, North Carolina 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 Mathias 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 with 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, E. M. . 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 last 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. -