Newton County.
CHARLES FRANKENBERGER, furniture dealer and undertaker, Kentland, was born in York County, Penn., February 23, 1828, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Phillips) Frankenberger, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Maryland. They had seven children, three of whom are living. Both were members of the M. E. Church, and moved to Indiana in 1836. He died in 1839. The father was a mechanic in early life, and later a farmer. His wife died in La Fayette about 1856. She was in Baltimore when Gen. Ross landed below the fort, intending to attack and burn the city. He had been to Washington not long before, and was closely pursued and somewhat demoralized. His observation was, "I will sup in Baltimore or in hell this eve." He did not sup in Baltimore, for he was killed; but where he supped we leave the reader to judge. Charles F. had the educational advantages of that day. Farming and carpentering were his occupations until he enlisted, in the fall of 1863, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Dick De Hart. The regiment's first move was to Charleston, Tenn., thence to Dalton; the first battle, "Buzzard's Roost." Subsequently, they took part in the Atlanta campaign, and afterward went to Nashville, thence to Pulaski, thence to Franklin, and thence to Nashville. Mr. F. left the regiment on account of sickness, and was sent to the field hospital, thence to Nashville, and thence to Jefferson Barracks, Mo., whence he was discharged after the surrender of Lee. He then returned to his farm of 200 acres in Newton County, which he had improved before enlisting. He came to this county in 1851, and, in 1866, was elected Sheriff of the county by an overwhelming majority. He held this office two years, since which he has been successfully engaged in his present business. Mr. F. was married, January 3, 1850, to Miss Mary E. Parks, of Montgomery County, Ind. They have seven children— Susan A., Sarah E., Alice A., Willie (died in 1857, aged three years), Dora, Eva and Charles. Both parents are members of the M. E. Church, in which Mr. F. has held an official relation for many years. He is a member of Lodge No. 396, I. O. O. F., also of McHolland Post, G. A. R. His store is the only one of the kind in Kentland, and he has a successful business. In politics, he is Republican.
Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana, Historical and Biographical, Illustrated, published by F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1883; Pg. 723
