PHILIP HIPSKIND. Sharing in the family prosperity, with a reputation for solid character and substantial citizenship, and materially contributing to his own career and character to the prestige of the family name, Philip Hipskind is the oldest of the living children of John Hipskind, one of the four brothers of that name who came from Germany, some sixty years ago, and whose establishment and subsequent career in Wabash have been briefly referred to in preceding paragraphs.
Philip Hipskind was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 8, 1848, and was six years old when brought to America. His education was necessarily limited, due to the fact that the family required some years before getting firmly established in economic prosperity in this county. His schooling was confined to about nine months in the English schools and some three months in the German school conducted by the Reformed Evangelican preacher. When still a boy he went to Evansville, Indiana, and under the supervision of two maternal uncles learned the bricklayers trade, and also the stone mason's trade under his father. As the oldest in the family of children he had to go to work when ten years of age, and for eight successive summers was steadily employed in brick yards. Then for one year he worked in the flouring mill of King and McCrea. Having become an expert in the bricklayers trade, he worked at that and stonemasonry for a time, and then joined his brother John in the contracting and building business. Their successful association resulted in the construction of many of the most important public and private buildings in Wabash. In later years the enterprise of Philip Hipskind diverted into more special channels, and he has made a name all over the state in contracting for and the building of street work, sewers, and highway construction. Most of the macadam street work in Wabash was done by him, and he built many miles of the fine pike road in Sullivan county of this state. He has constructed brick pavements at Portland, Geneva, Marion, Wabash, and Huntington. and a large amount of sewer construction in Richmond. Associated with him for a number of years have been his sons.
On September 10, 1871, Philip Hipskind married Miss Anna Mary Fleck. To their marriage were born the following children: George C.. Mary A., John E., Margaret, Alois F.. William C., Thomas A., Herman N., James F., Samuel S., Ruth A., and Bernard P.
Philip Hipskind and sons, in connection with their contracting business some years ago, to be exact, in the spring of 1907. engaged in the retail handling of coal, lime, cement, sewer pipe and other materials of that kind, and have since conducted a large establishment at Wabash, supplying material not only in the immediate locality, but over a large territory surrounding this county. Mr. Hipskind is a republican in polities, and worships in the German Reformed Evangelical church, though his wife and children are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
