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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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William C. Fuhrer, president of the Fuhrer-Ford Milling Company of Mt. Vernon, of which city he has been a resident since 1858, and one of the most prominent men of affairs in Posey county, was born in Pittsburg, Penn., November 25, 1837, a son of Gregory and Elizabeth (Johns) Fuhrer. Gregory Fuhrer was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, his parents being of German origin, and about 1830 he came to the United States, located in Pennsylvania and there met and married Elizabeth Johns, a native of Westmoreland county, who was also of German descent. In 1858 he brought his family to Indiana and settled in Mt. Vernon, where he engaged in farming and market gardening. William C. Fuhrer was reared in Pittsburg, Penn., and acquired his education in the public schools of that city and was graduated from Duff’s College. Shortly after the arrival of the family in Mt. Vernon, he secured employment as clerk of a wharf boat and was later bookkeeper for the dry goods firm of Mann, Larkin & Welborn. His initial venture as an owner was in the river trade in which he was a part owner in the steamers Hazel Dell, West Wind, and others of their class. He entered the commercial life of Mt. Vernon with Fred and John Decker—-Decker, Fuhrer & Co.—and later with Walter L. Sullivan and Richard Sarlls he formed the firm of Sullivan, Fuhrer & Co., and engaged in the retail dry goods business. In 1867 he engaged in the grain business and in 1883 entered the milling business as a member of the firm of Fuhrer, Boyce & Co., his associates being George W. and William L. Boyce. He was the first to establish a cash grain business, paying on delivery of the commodity, a method of transaction which not only was of decisive advantage to him as a buyer, but enabled the growers to avoid possible loss through the failure of any of the grain dealers during the interval between the buying and marketing of cereals, which in those days consumed some little time as the principal market was New Orleans. In 1883 the firm of Fuhrer, Boyce & Co. built the first “Peerless Mill,” which was burned in 1899, and on its site the present mill was erected and is now operated by the Fuhrer-Ford Milling Company, who succeeded to the business of the original builders. A review of this enterprise is included in the chapter “Manufacturing and Commercial Enterprises.” Mr. Fuhrer has also been interested directly and indirectly with many other business enterprises of his home city, and perhaps no one of its citizens has had more to do with the development and building up of Mt. Vernon than he. In truth he has been one of the foremost in every movement which had for its object the city’s progress, thrift and substantial growth. His political affiliations have been with the Republican party, his first presidential vote having been cast for Abraham Lincoln. In 1876 he supported Tilden and Hendricks, his one deflection from straight party lines. Political office has never appealed to him. He has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Fuhrer married, in 1860, Miss Ann Phillips, who was born and reared in Lynn township, Posey county. Three children were born of this marriage, viz.: Eugene H. Fuhrer, born March 11, 1865, secretary and treasurer of the Fuhrer-Ford Milling Company of Mt. Vernon; Minnie Fuhrer, born in 1867, wife of Charles E. Peperday of Jacksonville, Fla., who died there in 1905, and a boy who died in infancy.

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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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