Robert married Helen Dierkes. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

ANTHONY W. ROMWEBER. For nearly thirty years Anthony W. Romweber has been identified with the furniture industry in Batesville. First, with the American Furniture Company, one of the largest bedroom furniture manufacturers in the State and later, with the Batesville Cabinet Company, formed as an allied corporation with the American Furniture Company in 1913; the cabinet company being one of the leading dining-room furniture manufacturers in the country.

At the present time Mr. Romweber is the controlling head of these two large corporations, holding the position of treasurer of each. His career furnishes another example of the value of the homely virtues of integrity and perseverance, for he was only fifteen years of age when he entered upon his life's work; and the prestige that is now his has been gained by industry and personal effort.

Mr. Romweber was born in Cincinnati in 1871 and is the son of John and Rose (Huerman) Romweber. His grandfather, Antone Romweber, was born in Oldenburg, Germany, and came to the United States prior to the war between the States. His father, John Romweber, was born at Oldenburg, Indiana, and died in 1874, when the present Mr. Romweber was but a boy of three years of age. Anthony W. Romweber was a child when taken by his parents to Oldenburg, Indiana, where he attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he took a position as clerk in a general store. At the end of a few years he began to serve an apprenticeship to the watchmakers' and jewelers' trade, a business which he followed for about twelve years in Oldenburg, or until 1900 in which year he came to Batesville to become actively identified with the American Furniture Company.

This business was founded in 1880 by John Hillenbrand, Sr., who at the time had about twenty employees and a plant covering 8,000 square feet, specializing in the manufacture of bedroom furniture. At the present time the plants of the American Furniture Company and the Batesville Cabinet Company are merged. The two plants now cover about 800,000 square feet and employ normally about 350 skilled mechanics.

George M. Hillenbrand is president of these concerns, with Mr. Romweber's sons, John A. and Paul C., vice presidents; George H., another son, as secretary.

Previous to the latter part of 1929, Mr. Romweber, in addition to the foregoing, was prominently identified, and held prominent positions with the Batesville Casket Company, Batesville Electric Light and Power Company, Batesville Water Works Company and the Hillenbrand Company. At that time, all of the above named companies were integral parts of the Hillenbrand industries.

A division was made whereby the two utilities, namely: The Batesville Electric Light and Power Company and Batesville Water Works Company were relinquished and Mr. Romweber, at that time, took control, with his sons, of the two furniture industries; with the Casket Company coming under the active management and control of Mr. John A. Hillenbrand and members of his family.

From the start of his connection with the American Furniture Company, Mr. Romweber proved himself capable, intelligent and faithful in the performance of his duties. Promotion followed as a matter of course and he finally became secretary of the American Furniture Company to the duties of which office were later added those of general manager. The above responsibilities being his up until the latter part of 1929 when he and his family took over the controlling interests of the two furniture companies.

Mr. Romweber is accounted one of the most energetic and capable business men of Batesville and is widely known in business circles throughout this part of the State. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is keenly interested in all matters pertaining to the public welfare; he is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Batesville of which he is Past Grand Knight; a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Greensburg, Indiana, and of the Knights of St. John, Batesville, Indiana. During the World war he rendered active and valued services as a member of the Ripley County Council of Defense and in the War Loan and War Savings Stamp drives.

Mr. Romweber married Miss Rose L. Hillenbrand, daughter of John Hillenbrand, Sr., a sister of John A. and George M. Hillenbrand, and to this union there have been born five children; John A., vice-president and general manager of the American Furniture Company and Batesville Cabinet Company; Paul C., vice president and assistant sales manager of the same two furniture companies, at the present time covering the eastern territory for his firms; George H., secretary of the two companies, at the present time in charge of the credit departments; Robert J., traveling salesman, covering a portion of the Central States Territory, and A. William, who is at present preparing to enter one of the larger universities for the completion of his education.

INDIANA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT Vol. 3
By Charles Roll, A.M.
The Lewis Publishing Company, 1931

Anthony married Rosa Hillenbrand on 6 Jun 1900 in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana, USA. Rosa (daughter of John Hillenbrand and Margaretha Herr) was born on 28 Jan 1878 in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana, USA; died in 0Feb 1964 in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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.

John married Margaretha Herr on 26 May 1863 in Dearborn County, Indiana, USA. Margaretha (daughter of Johannes Georg Herr and Margaretha Scheib) was born on 15 Jun 1842 in Dahn, Pfalz, Bayern; was christened on 18 Jun 1842 in Dahn, Pfalz, Bayern; died on 1 Feb 1929 in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]