My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BIEDENKOPF, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, was born January 29, 1839, being next to the youngest in the family of six children born to William and Eva (Maygold) Biedenkopf, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The former who was a stone-mason in his native country, came to America and located in Maryland. He afterwards resided in Pennsylvania, Cincinnati and Zanesville, Ohio, and Indianapolis. In the spring of 1854 he came to Spencer County, Ind., and located on a farm in Grass Township, where he lived until his death in March, 1858. His wife died about fifteen months later. John Biedenkopf received a very good education in both English and German in the schools of Cincinnati. He came with his parents to Spencer County and followed farming on his father’s place until 1860 when he engaged in the dry goods’ and grocery business in Centreville one year. In 1862 he came to Grandview where he was engaged in the grocery business, with the exception of one year when he was engaged in grist and saw-milling at Eureka, until 1879. Since the latter date he has been in the real estate and insurance business, and has devoted considerable attention to farming. He resides upon a small but valuable farm within the corporation, and owns some other good farming land in the township. He also owns several of the best business blocks and vacant lots in Grandview and valuable property in Rockport. December 24, 1859, he married Elizabeth Shoemaker, a native of Spencer County. They have seven children, six of whom, Grace C., William H., Alice R., Joseph W., Anna and Christian, are living. In politics Mr. Biedenkopf is a Democrat, and he has taken an active interest in the political affairs of the county. In 1870 he was the nominee of his party for sheriff and 1882 for treasurer. He is a member of both the A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F., and is one of Spencer County’s most successful men.