Biography of Fred J. Nebelung, pages 522/523524.  History 
of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



In the respect that is accorded the men who have fought 
their own way to success through unfavorable environment we 
find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic worth  of 
a character which not only can endure so rough a test, but 
gain new strength through the discipline. The gentleman to 
whom the biographer now calls the reader’s attention was 
not favored by inherited wealth, or the assistance of 
influence of influential friends, but in spite of this, by 
perseverance, industry and a wise economy, he has attained 
a comfortable station in life.  Fred J. Nebelung, a 
successful merchant and representative citizen of Auburn, 
Indiana, was born at Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, on the 
17th of September, 1867, and is the son of Charles and 
Frances (Peffer) Nebelung, both of whom were natives of 
Germany, the father coming from Saxony and the mother from 
Alsace. They came to this country separately and were 
married in Toledo, Ohio, from whence they removed to Bryan, 
where Mr. Nebelung followed the vocation of a barber. He 
spent the rest of his days there, dying in 1889, and is 
survived by his widow, who still reside in that city.  Fred 
Nebelung was reared under the paternal roof and secured his 
education in the common and high schools at Bryan. From the 
age of sixteen years until about twenty-two years of age, 
he was employed as  clerk in a clothing store, after which 
for two years he was a traveling salesman for Taylor’s 
trimmings and furnishings, with headquarters at Cleveland, 
Ohio. Subsequently he went to Lima, Ohio, where for about 
three years he was employed in a clothing store, and, in 
1893, returned to Bryan and entered into business on his 
own account as a merchant tailor and dealer in gent’s 
furnishings. In March, 1898, he disposed of his business in 
Bryan, and, coming to Auburn, bought the Racket store on 
Main street, three doors south of Eighth street, where he 
remained about a month, then moving to his present location 
at the northwest corner of Eighth and Main streets. His 
business constantly increased from the time that he took 
hold of it and gradually he changed his stock to dry good, 
shoes and ladies’ ready-to-wear clothing, in addition to 
which he also carried a line of groceries. The growth of 
the business was gratifying and continued to such an extent 
that in 1913 Mr. Nebelung was compelled to enlarge his 
space and took possession of the store room adjoining him 
on the north.  He now devotes the old store room to the 
shoe business, and has dry goods and ready-to-wear clothing 
in the new store room, while a carpet and rug department is 
maintained on the second floor.  Strict attention to 
business, courtesy to customers and a large and complete 
line of goods in all departments are the elements that have 
contributed to the success of Mr. Nebelung, who is now 
considered one of the leading merchants of Auburn.  
Fraternally Mr. Nebelung is affiliated with a number of 
local lodges, and is also a member and director of the 
Commercial Club.  His religious membership is with the 
Catholic church, to which he is a liberal contributor. He 
gives a hearty support to every movement, which is 
calculated to advance the best interests of the community, 
and, because of his genial manner, sterling integrity and 
genuine worth, he enjoys the confidence and respect of the 
entire community.  In 1895 Fred Nebelung was married to 
Mrs. Frederica Harding, of St. Mary’s, Ohio, who has proven 
to her husband a helpmate in the truest sense of the word. 
By a former marriage Mrs. Nebelung is the mother of a 
daughter, Nell. 

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@cltnet.com