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- JOHN HILLENBRAND, SR. In the death of John Hillenbrand, Sr., which occurred in 1910, the City of Batesville and community lost one of its most capable and energetic business men. Mr. Hillenbrand was the founder of the American Furniture Company. one of the city?s most substantial industrial enterprises and today numbered among the country?s largest industrial plants of its kind. Mr. Hillenbrand was also the founder of the Hillenbrand & Mitchell Company, of Batesville, which was organized by himself and his son-in-law, George Mitchell, which concern later became The Hillenbrand Company. In 1906 he, together with his sons, took over and reorganized The Batesville Casket Company, which today is one of the largest manufacturers of casket and burial supplies in this country. During his active business career Mr. Hillenbrand was instrumental in furthering the interests of the city from the time of his arrival to this community in early manhood. Heavy responsibilit!
ies were thrown upon his shoulders at an early period in his life and these assisted in developing a strong and sturdy character and qualities that assisted in making him a business and civic leader in his later years. Mr. Hillenbrand was born on a farm in Ripley County, Indiana, in the year 1843. He attended the public schools of that vicinity, however, his education was not of an elaborate nature, as his father died when he was but ten years of age and he was forced to assist in the support of the family. In the year 1876, when thirty years of age, he with his wife and five children left the farm and moved to Batesville where he embarked in the general store business with his brother William Hillenbrand, the business being operated under the name Hillenbrand & Brother, General Merchandise and Farm Implements. Two years later the furniture plant at Batesville, its most important industry, was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Hillenbrand, always alive to opportunity, purchased t!
he property, rebuilt the plant along larger and more modern lines and
with some other associates founded the American Furniture Company, this concern coming into being in 1879. At the outset it was an unpretentious business, limited by a small capital, and employed about twenty employees. The mercantile business was kept in operation until 1888, when John Hillenbrand bought his brother?s interests and with his son-in-law, George Mitchell, reorganized the merchandising business under the name Hillenbrand & Mitchell Company. Several years later, Mr. Hillenbrand sold his interest in the Hillenbrand & Mitchell Company, and put the money thus secured into the furniture plant, which originally covered 8,000 square feet, and specialized in the manufacture of bedroom furniture. In the year 1896, George Mitchell died and several years later Mr. Hillenbrand?s son-in-law, A. W. Romweber, took over Mrs. Mitchell?s interest and became secretary of all of the Hillenbrand companies. Under the able direction and mature judgment of Mr.!
Hillenbrand the business showed a healthy growth, and about every five years it was found necessary to add additional buildings and equipment. At the present time the plant covers 240,000 square feet, and employs about 220 skilled mechanics, office workers and traveling salesmen. The Hilienbrand Company?s sawmill and lumber manufacturing department was organized in 1890, at Batesville, with John A. Hillenbrand as president and George M. Hillenbrand, vice president, and bought a large acreage of standing timber in Ripley County, where for a time seven sawmills were operated. This acreage consists of American walnut, oak and poplar timber, which is used in the manufacture of furniture, and the business employed ninety men. Mr. Hillenbrand then organized the Batesville Casket Company, of which he became the owner in 1906, the active management of the plant being taken over by his son, John A. Hillenbrand. From a small concern, employing only a few men, the casket co!
mpany now has approximately 16,000 square feet, with an output of 15,0
00 caskets a month, 160 men being employed. John A. Hillenbrand is now president of the Batesville Casket Company his brother, George M. Hillenbrand, vice president, and A. W. Romweber, secretary. John Hillenbrand also organized the Batesville Electric Light & Power Company and ten people are now employed to make and furnish electric light and nower for the city of Batesville and other communities in Ripley County. The light company now has 900 meters in use, with a 700-kilowatt production, John A. Hillenbrand being president of this company. George M. Hillenbrand vice president and treasurer, and A. W. Romweber, secretary. John Hillenbrand also founded the Batesville Water Works Company in 1901, and the plant was sold to the City of Batesville in 1928. In 1913 the Batesville Cabinet Company was organized by the sons of John Hillenbrand, Sr., namely, George M. and John A. Hillenbrand and A. W. Romweber and now employs 255 people in its plant, specializing in the manufactu!
re of dining room furniture. This plant has 345,000 square feet of floor space and is located at Batesville, George M. Hillenbrand being president and treasurer, John A. Hillenbrand, vice president, and A. W. Romweber, secretary. John A. Hillenbrand is also president of the First National Bank of Batesville and of the First Savings & Trust Company, a position which he has held since the bank?s organization in 1907. John Hillenbrand, the elder, was a son of William Hillenbrand, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine and came to the United States in young manhood, settling in 1830, in Ripley County, where he passed the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. John Hillenbrand, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Margarett Herr, a native of Dearborn County, Indiana, who died in 1929, at the age of 87 years. Mr. and Mrs.. John Hillenbrand are survived by four children: Mrs. Mary A. Mitchell, George M. Hillenbrand, John A. Hillenbrand and Mrs. A. W. Romweber. While!
he was primarily a business man, John Hillenbrand never refused any o
f the responsibilities of citizenship. He was a member of the first town council of Batesville, and served as postmaster of Batesville during President Cleveland?s second administration. George M. Hillenbrand, son of John Hillenbrand, attended the schools of Batesville until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he entered his father?s plant and gradually learned the business details of the various enterprises conducted by his father. So well did he progress that at the age of twenty-one years he took active charge, after spending several years as a traveling salesman. When he became twenty-three years of age he was made president and general manager of the controlling company. He and his brother, John A. Hillenbrand, a review of whose careers will be found elsewhere in this work, are liberal minded, far-sighted business men, and their plants give employment to about eighty per cent of the population of Batesville. George M. Hillenbrand married Miss S!
ophia Schrader, a daughter of the late Frederick and Hedwig Schrader, the Schraders being numbered among the most prominent citizens of Batesville. Mr. Schrader was prominent in the political life of the community and served Thur terms in the Indiana State Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Hillenbrand have no children. When the town of Batesville became a city in the year 1909, George M. Hillenbrand was elected the city?s first mayor.
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1843 - 1910 (67 years)