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Below is a family biography included in The History of Perry County, Indiana published by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co. in 1885.  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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AUGUST MENNINGER, an influential business man of Tell City, was born near Frankfort-on-the-Main, November 21, 1826. He received a good education in his native language, and also obtained some knowledge of French. He learned the blacksmith’s trade, and in 1845 came with his father to the United States, where he worked in the machine shops of Baltimore, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Cincinnati. In 1857 he engaged in running a small machine shop and foundry in that city, and continued until 1860, when he came to Tell City much impaired in health. Since that time he has been successfully engaged in saw-milling, and does the leading business in that line in the county. In 1850 he married Catharine Schmidberger, a native of Germany. To this union nine children have been born, six of whom are now living. They are Anna E., wife of John Patrick; Elenore, wife of Rudolph Kaercher; August V.; Charles F.; Emma M. and Flora A. In politics Mr. Menninger has always been quite liberal in his views. Previous to 1872 he voted the Republican ticket, but since that time has affiliated with the Democratic party. He is an enterprising citizen, and takes an active interest in education, and everything of public importance. He is the second child in a family of six children born to Andrew and Barbara (Pauly) Menninger, both natives of Germany, where the latter died in 1843. The father came to America with his family in 1845. He lived in Maryland for two years, and then removed to Cincinnati, where he worked at blacksmithing, and later to Dearborn County, Ind. He was drowned in the Ohio River while on a visit to Cincinnati, January 3, 1852.

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This family biography is one of 257 biographies included in The History of Perry County, Indiana portion of the book: History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties Indiana published in 1885 by Goodspeed, Bros. & Co.  For the complete description, click here: Perry County, Indiana History and Genealogy

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

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