William Bovenschen

A typical specimen of the splendid German-American citizens whose sturdy manhood, thrift and industry have wrought so much for our country's good, and who have ever been among our best class of foreigners, loyal and energetic, is the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this brief sketch.

William Bovenschen belongs to the second generation of Germans in this country, having been born in Wright township, Greene county, May 27, 1866, and spending his busy and useful life ever since within her borders, maintaining that the opportunities offered there for an honest and comfortable living could not be surpassed, not only in this state, but nowhere else in the Union. He is the son of Didrick and Margaret (Smith) Bovenschen, who emigrated to America from the fatherland in early life, married and settled in Wright township, Greene county, Indiana, where they were soon assimilated with the population they found there and built a comfortable home. They had twelve children born; three sons and two daughters now living. The advantages and pleasures of his parental home were such that our subject did not care to sever his connection with it until he was twenty-five years old, at which age he went out to battle life alone and with what success he accomplished the feat is attested to by the present prosperity which he enjoys and which he has achieved all by his unaided efforts, having been compelled to rely upon his own decisions for guidance, and his innate ability as an agriculturist, which vocation he has always preferred to follow, seems to have been on a par with that of any other citizen of his community.

The subject has lived for the past sixteen years on his present well kept farm of eight acres, pleasantly situated two miles northeast of Linton, and only a glance over this place will show that these years have not been given to idleness and inertness, for much careful work has evidently been done here by Mr. Bovenschen, so that his farm is now quite attractive in every respect, and his residence equal to others in the neighborhood.

On March 26, 1891, our subject was happily married to Sena Heitman, daughter of Henry Heitman, a worthy family living in Stockton township, not far from the subject's place of residence. The following children have been born to this union whose ages in 1908 are: Anna, sixteen; Grace, thirteen; Helen, eleven; Tressie, eight; Bernice, six; Ruth, four; Wayne, an infant.

Mr. Bovenschen has the interest of his community and county at heart, is a Democrat in politics, being willing to give a part of his time to the duties of the advisory board of Stockton township, of which he is a member.

Mr. and Mrs. Bovenschen are members of the German Reformed church.

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"Biographical Memoirs of Greene County, Ind. with Reminiscences of Pioneer Days", B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, IN, 1908, pages 1010-1012.

Last updated 8.11.2009