Transcript:Indiana, United States. Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties/B/Bieghle, Alexander W.

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Alexander W. Bieghle (p 1062)

One of the well known citizens of Franklin County, whose life has borne marked influence upon its intellectual development and progress, is Alexander W. Bieghle, who is now residing upon his fine farm in Laurel Township. He was born at Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1826, and is of German lineage. The name was originally spelled Biegle, but with passing years has been changed to its present form. The paternal grandfather of our subject was the founder of the family in America. He was born in Germany and in early life crossed the Atlantic, after which he made his home in Pennsylvania.

Henry Bieghle, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster, Berks County, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1782, and was one of a quite numerous family, but all of the representatives of that generation have now passed away. He was reared to manhood in the state of his nativity and there married Mrs. Jane Doty, whose maiden name was Crow, and who was born in Pennsylvania, March 13, 1804. In 1856 they removed to California to be near their children, who had preceded them to that state, and on the Pacific Coast they spent the remainder of their days. They had a family of eleven children. One son died in infancy, and a daughter was born to the mother by her first marriage. The others are: Alexander W., who is the eldest; Hiram, of Montana; Mrs. Mary Laura Clough, of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Madeline Tombs, of Fresno, California; William, of Stockton, California; Samuel Crow, who died in Blairsville, Pennsylvania; Minerva, wife of Dr. Bedford, of Fresno, California; Thomas, who lost his life in a shaft while engaged in mining in the Golden State; George, of San Francisco; and Martha, a resident of Vancouver.

During his boyhood and youth Alexander W. Bieghle was an earnest and industrious student, and at the age of eighteen years we find him engaged in teaching in Fayetteville, Indiana. In 1847 he went to Laurel, where he successfully engaged in teaching until 1852. At that time vast throngs had crossed the plains to seek their fortunes in the land of gold, and still the rush to California was unabated. In the then undeveloped region supplies were difficult to obtain, and brought exceedingly high prices. Mr. Bieghle, with two of his brothers, Hiram and William, determined to cross the plains with a drove of cattle, believing that a large profit might be realized in such an enterprise. At Council Bluffs they crossed the Missouri to the present site of Omaha, Nebraska, with a drove of one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle, and thence journeyed westward, by way of Salt Lake City, to Mariposa, California, being eight months on the trip. What is now a mere pleasure journey of four or five days was then a long and perilous trip, over hot and arid sands and across rugged mountains where danger threatened them on every hand. Indians were frequently on the war path and at all times were ready for plunder, but the party with which Mr. Bieghle traveled treated the savages kindly and received like treatment in return. This was notably the case in passing through the reservation of the Piute Indians, where their kind treatment of the tribe won them freedom from attack, while trains that preceded and immediately followed them were badly harassed by that warlike band. The different trains were also quick to aid and assist one another in times of accident or danger. On one occasion a woman belonging to another train, while removing a gun from a wagon was severely injured by its accidental explosion. Her arm was badly mangled and, as there was no physician near, preparations were made to hasten on with the woman to a place where a surgeon would probably be found. Such a procedure would doubtless have proven fatal to the sufferer, as the distance was great and the injury a severe one. In this emergency Mr. Bieghle came to the rescue and by the exercise of some skill and a good deal of common sense so treated the injured member that the woman eventually recovered nearly the entire use of her arm and hand.

The journey was finally ended, and with such success that, of the one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle with which the Bieghle brothers started, one hundred and twelve remained at the time they arrived at their destination. They then engaged in the dairy business, selling milk at a dollar per gallon, butter at a dollar per pound, cheese at one dollar and a half per pound and all other provisions at a similar rate. After about a year they sold their stock, cows, which they had purchased for fifteen dollars bringing three hundred dollars. For a time our subject worked with three yoke of oxen, hauling quartz, and for this received sixteen dollars per day. He is the only one of the brothers who returned to the east. He sailed on the Star of the West from San Francisco to the Isthmus of Panama, and then crossing to the Atlantic coast took passage to New York, where he arrived twenty-seven days after leaving the Golden Gate.

After visiting his parents at the old home in Pennsylvania he returned to Laurel, Indiana, where he resumed teaching, and in 1860 he accepted the position of principal of the schools of Metamora, where he remained until 1863, when, feeling that his duty was to his country, he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, going into camp at Greensburg, Indiana. When Company D was organized he was made orderly sergeant and authorized to engage in recruiting. In this way he was instrumental in forming Company K, and was made its first lieutenant. The regiment went directly to Louisville and thence to Nashville, Tennessee, and on to Charlestown, Tennessee, where Lieutenant Bieghle received orders to proceed to Knoxville to fit out an ambulance train. After doing this he rejoined his command at Resaca, Georgia, where he was detailed to serve on the staff of General Hovey, as chief of ambulance. When that general resigned, the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana was placed in another corps, and soon Professor Bieghle received orders to proceed to Knoxville for another ambulance train. After many narrow escapes from capture by the enemy, with his train he safely reached the command in Marietta, Georgia, and was made chief on the staff of General J. F. Cox. From that time until the close of the war he served as chief of ambulance on the staff of that corps and a part of the time on General Schofield's staff.

After Lee's surrender he was placed in charge of the property of the division, and continued in that position until the same was sold by auction. Later he was made assistant superintendent of sales, acting in that capacity until the stock was sold. He held the rank of lieutenant, and was quartermaster in charge of the train of the Twenty-third Army Corps, being also assistant superintendent of sales. His position was a very responsible one, demanding superior executive ability and excellent judgment, and that his service was eminently satisfactory, and that he discharged his duties with marked ability is indicated by a letter of most complimentary character received from Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. H. Day, superintendent of sales, and dated December 16, 1865. This letter, which is still in possession of Prof. Bieghle, is strongly endorsed by Brigadier-General Boyd of General Schofield's staff.

When his country no longer needed his services, he returned to Indiana and resumed teaching at Metamora. He also followed that profession at Laurel, and in 1873 was chosen to organize and grade the schools of Brookville, which work he thoroughly accomplished, remaining in charge of the schools there for three years. He then located on his farm, on section 20, Laurel Township, which he purchased in 1866, and which is now his place of abode. Both he and his wife, however, continued their educational labors until 1882.

On the 23rd of August, 1848, Professor Bieghle was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth D. Harrald, who died November 6, 1870, leaving a daughter, Minerva, who is now a resident of Colorado. On the 1st of July, 1874, he married Mary A. Barton, a native of Brookville, an educated and accomplished lady, who was long a successful teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Bieghle have a beautiful home, their residence being situated on a natural building site which affords a fine view of Whitewater Valley, in which a part of their farm is located. Much of the remainder of their farm contains valuable quarry and cement stone, rendering it a very desirable property. In his political views the Professor is a Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Church. He is a gentleman of scholarly attainments and liberal culture, possesses a fine library of modern standard works, and with his favorite authors spends many of his most pleasant hours. He has done much to advance the intellectual status of the county, and his deep interest in the cause of education and his efforts for the mental improvement of his fellow men well entitle him to rank as a public benefactor.