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Below is a family biography included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published by Standard Publishing Company in 1913.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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John Espenlaub, a farmer and land owner of Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, was born in Robinson township of the same county, October 14, 1856, son of John C. and Barbara (Mueller) Espenlaub. The father of our subject was born in Germany, September 26, 1826, and came to the United States at the age of twenty-six years, locating in Robinson township, where he bought land and became a farmer, following that occupation until his death, in November, 1907. He was an active member of the Zion Evangelical church in Robinson township, and was a trustee in that organization. He married at the age of twenty-seven, and he and his wife became the parents of fourteen children: Lena, Elizabeth, Caroline, Katherine, John, Louise, William, Henry, Charles, Bertha, ?uline, Minnie, Ernest, and Herman. All are living except Lena. The other died in 1900. The subject of this record was reared in Robinson township, and in 1882 bought the farm he now owns in Marrs township, here he has since lived and prospered. On November 27, 1882, he married Miss Minnie Dora Schroeder, daughter of Fred and Mary (Berger) Schroeder, farmers of Robinson township, where Mrs. Espenlaub was born, May 10, 1863. The Schroeders came from Germany early in life before their marriage. Their other children were: Louise, Henry, Minnie, Mary, Ernest and Fred. All are living except Ernest, who died November 15, 1911. They are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Espenlaub have had two sons and four daughters: Anna Barbara, born August 28, 1883, now the wife of Fred Donner, of Robinson township, has had five children, Edward, born December 22, 1907, Fred, born July 14, 1906, Albert, born in January, 1910, Clarence, born November 6, 1912, and Henry, the second, died in infancy; William Henry, born April 8, 1885; Mary Minnie, born March 8, 1889; Fred, born September 26, 1893, a graduate of the Posey County High School, studied special courses at the State Normal, and is now a teacher in the Marrs township schools; Selma K. L., born August 14, 1896; Emily Anna, born July 31, 1903, died January 21, 1908. The family are members of the Zion Evangelical Church and are active workers. Mr. Espenlaub is a Republican, but has never sought office. He is one of the progressive farmers of Posey county, and has a well improved farm, where he caries on general farming and stock raising.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in The History of Posey County, Indiana by John C. Leffel and published in 1913 by Standard Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Posey County, Indiana History and Genealogy

View additional Posey County, Indiana family biographies here: Posey County, Indiana Biographies

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