PETER WIEDMER, senior member of the firm of Wiedmer, Oboussier & Co., proprietors of foundry and machine shop at Tell City, was born in Switzerland in October, 1820. He is the second of seven children born to the marriage of Jacob Weidmer and Barbara Zaug, who were also natives of Switzerland, where they passed their lives. Peter grew to manhood in his native country, receiving an ordinary education. He learned the blacksmith’s trade, which he followed for a number of years, and also worked some as a machinist. In 1850 he came to the United States, and worked in machine shops until 1858, when he came to Tell City with a very limited capital. He rented a small tract of land near the town, and was engaged in farming for about two years. He then worked in various shops and foundries, and at any kind of manual labor he could procure until 1868, when he began his present business with Mr. Oboussier. In 1875, A. Roeser, an adopted son of Mr Wiedmer, was taken into the firm. They do a thriving business in the manufacture of steam engines, shingle machines, cane-mills, and all kinds of machinery. They employ eight hands, and find a local demand for most of their products. In 1846 Mr Wiedmer married Eliabeth Meier, a native of Switzerland. I politics he is a Republican, and is one of the prominent business men of the town.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
RICHARD WINDPFENNIG, of Tell City, came to the United States in 1865, and was employed as traveling salesman for a wholesale tobacco house in Pitsburgh, Penn., for two years. Afterward he was engaged in the saloon business in St. Louis until 1872, when he came to Tell City and managed the hotel and saloon of William Stolts, until the latter’s death. In October, 1875, he married the widow of his former employer. He enlarged the hotel, making it the best hostelry in the town, and conducted it until 1878, when he again went to St. Louis. He returned to Tell City in 1881, and has since been engaged in the saloon business. He also gives some attention to his farm north of town. It has a coal mine upon it, which supplies a great part of the town with a good quality of bituminous coal. Mr. Windpfennig is a Democrat, a member ofthe I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W., and an enterprising business man. He was born in Berlin, Prussia, January 15, 1845, being one of eight children born to the marriage of Adolph Windpfennig and Bertha Reiman. The father died in Prussia in 1883. The mother still survives him.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
LEANDER YARITO, a prominent teacher of Tell City, was born in San Antonio, Mex., September 9, 1840, being one of a family of six children in the family of Francisco and Guadalupe Yarito, natives of Spain and Mexico respectively. Leander, at the age of eight years, left his parents and came with Capt. Isaac Wright to Spencer County. He lived with Capt. Wright until attaining his majority, receiving only a limited education. He afterward educated himself with a view to making teaching a profession. He attended Rockport Seminary, Franklin College, Ladoga, Ind., Seminary, and the State Uniersity at Bloomington, where he completed the sophomore year. In the meantime he had taught school in Spencer and Perry Counties, and upon his return he taught at Dale, Cannelton, and in 1872 came to Tell City. He has taught in the town and district schools ever since, and is recognized as one of the best instructors in the county. In 1873 he married Josephine Batson, a native of Perry County, who died in 1881, leaving one child – Guy L. In 1882 he wedded Lydia Powell, by whom he is the father of one child – Mabel. Mr. Yarito is a Democrat in politics, and will probably be appointed United States gauger and store-keeper for Tell City, to succeed Maj. Lamb.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885
CHRISTIAN ZOERCHER, president and foreman of the Cabinet Makers’ Union, was born in Bavaria September 5, 1832. He was reared at home on the farm, receiving a fair German education. In 1851 he came to the United States and learned the cabinet-maker’s trade, working in New York City and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He afterward worked for a number of years at his trade, and in machine shops in Cincinnati. In 1868 he came to Tell City, and worked in various factories in town for two years. He then bought an interest in the Cabinet Makers’ Union, which he still owns. He is one of seven children born to the marriage of Henry Zoercher and Mary Bolander, native of the same country as himself, where they passed their lives. May 25, 1859, he married Mary Christ, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and to their union have been born eight children. Those now living are Catharine, Jacob, Henry, Phillip, Anno, Christena and Louis. Both he and wife are members of the Evangelical Church. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F., and in politics is a Democrat.
“History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana – Troy Township & Tell City” by Goodspeed Bros. & Co. – published in 1885