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ABRAM LANMAN, a progressive and enterprising citizen of Leopold Township, was born May 23, 1834, in the township of which he is now a resident. He is the youngest in a family of fourteen children born to John and Martha (Thrasher) Lanman, who were natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively, and were among the first pioneers of this county. Abram Lanman made his home with his parents on the old homestead until their deaths and is yet a resident there. He received his early education from the primitive subscription schools of that day, and December 14, 1859, was united in matrimony with Mary Hill, who died February 12, 1860, after bearing one daughter—Mary E., who died November 14, 1883. April 24, 1861, Mr. Lanman wedded Helen A. Robertson, by whom he is the father of these seven children: William H., Martha, John E., Willard, George F., Lennie A. and Minnie B., the last two named being twins. Mr. Lanman has successfully followed agricultural pursuits through life, and now owns 250 acres of good farming and grazing land. He is a Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in the public and political affairs of the community in which he lives, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

 

From “History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Leopold Township” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885:  JOSEPH FRANCIS CLAUDEL, a prominent old citizen of Leopold Township, was born November 30,  1815, in France, being the eldest of four children born to Nicholas and Anna (Phelpine) Claudel. In 1833 the family left their native land, and crossing the ocean landed at New Orleans, from whence they went by river to Louisville, Ky., where they resided about four years. They subject of this biography received a fair education in the schools of his native country, and while at Louisville served a three years’ apprenticeship at the carpenter and joiner’s trade. He worked at his trade one summer in St. Louis, one winter at Vicksburg and three years at New Albany. Then coming to Perry County, Ind., he followed his trade a number of years, and has since been confining his attention to milling and agricultural pursuits. He has made life a success, now owning 640 acres of improved land and a water-mill of small capacity; is a Democrat, and he and family are Catholics. Under the old law he was elected and served as township treasurer. November 20, 1843, Magdaline Casper became his wife, and by him is the mother of eight children: Joseph (who married Rose Stephen), Francis M., Pierre G., Mary K. , (wife of Solomon Sweat), William P., Angeline, John V. and Sarah J.

“PETER CASPER, one of the old and well known citizens of this township, is a native of Prussia, his birth occurring April 5, 1822. He is the third in a family of twelve children born to Peter and Angeline (Emery) Casper, who, in company with their family, immigrated to the United States in 1842, and from June to September of that year, resided in New York. They then removed to Perry County, Ind., stopping a few months at Louisville while on the way, and the parents made this their home until their respective deaths. Peter Casper, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in his native country, where he was fairly educated. August 2, 1851, his marriage with Sarah A. Sweat was solemnized, and to their union ten children have been born, of which there seven are now alive: Mary E. (now Mrs. John James), Delilah J. (the wife of James Burke), Annie (consort of August Etienne), Michael, (married Agnes Etienne), Eliza, Peter and Eva. Mr. Casper has made farming his principal occupation through life, although from 1847 to 1866 he was engaged in flat-boating on the river. Industry and economy on the part of himself and wife have brought to them a good farm of over 300 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and family are Roman Catholics. His father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, and died at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years.”
Source:  “History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Leopold Township” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885Belva

Biography :John Belva was a farmer. He came in Perry County, Ind. in 1849 and lived in Leopold but left it for Oil Township in 1856. After being drafted, was sent to Jeffersonville, Ind. After examination by a surgeon, John Belva was mustered in the service and sent to Indianapolis Ind. The rescues joined the regiment in time for the Grand Revue in Washington before being sent back to Indiana by way of Louisville, Ky. On or about the 10th of June 1865 near Parkesburg Virginia, John Belva incurred a severe attack of sores eyes by exposure. The regiment was transported by cars from Washington D.C. to Louisville Ky in open cars., most of them open cars. John Belva was on an open car, and the weather was damp and windy, caused inflammation of his eyes thence in painful severity. Belva testified :Each car was crowded and traveled very slow – we were 3… days in going from Washington D.C. to Parkesburg Va and when we got there my eyes were very sores, especially my right eye. I don’t know the exact cause but always attributed it to riding in the flat car and supposed it was the result of the wind and that possibly he might have got some very fine cinder or dust in them. At any rate they were very sore when we reached Parkersburg Va and none of the rest of my comrades were so troubled. I did not do anything for my eyes. Jacob Faekenborough came up to me and said why your eyes are sores and then said that maybe it was wild hairs out when he looked Could not find any – while on the cars before we got to Parkersburg Va I was heading my cotton handkerchief up to my eyes and one of my comrades Nicholas Goffinet said thought to have a silk handkerchief and as I said not have one he let me have his. With them was also John B. Meunier. When we got to Parkersburg, we left the train and went from there to Louisville Ky on a steamboat and were there in camp about six weeks, from the 18 of June through the 21 of July before we were discharged In 1879 went for Mt Pleasant in Oil Township, Perry County, Indiana and loss entirely the sight of his right eye in the spring of 1883 There were two pensions filed:depositions from, John B. Meunier, Nicolas Goffinet, Henry James, Joseph James, John Goffinet, Henry James Sr., Prosper Williams, Joseph James, Louis Goffinet, Peter Casper and John James(Peter Casper knew him since 1843 and Joseph James since boyhood.

MICHAEL CASPER, deceased, one of the early settlers of Leopold Township, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary A. Seat, was of Kentucky birth. They settled in Perry County, Indiana, about the year 1824, and were recognized as among the quiet, industrious and highly esteemed citizens of their neighborhood. They were devout members of the Roman Catholic faith, as are also their descendents, and they were the parents of eleven children. The father died June 29, 1878, and the mother’s death occurred May 19, 1880. The heirs all reside together on the old homestead, which consists of about 1,200 acres, which they own in partnership, and all are Democrats. The oldest living of these children, Martin F., was born January 23, 1854, was married January 13, 1878, to Alice Burke, and by her is the father of four children: Michael, Katie, John and Minnie. Peter H. Casper was born March 11, 1856, married Ella Brant, who has borne him three children, of which Ida M. and Louis P. are the survivors. Jacob M. Casper, born October 19, 1860,married Maggie Ward, and to their union two children have been born – Edward and Mar. Other heirs of the Casper estate are John L. Casper, Michael D. Casper and Charles P. Casper. In addition to their fine farm they own a good store on the place, where they carry a general stock of merchandise, valued at about $4,000, and have an average annual trade of about $2,500.

“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Leopold Township” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885