This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bentz, Wilhelm, Holtz, Baden, Pfalsgraff, Thiel, Poppel, Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Sh.2ADI/1775 Message Board Post: This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE: I don’t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no index. I do not want to sell this book. I am typing the biographies from it. Typed by Lora Radiches: Surnames in this biography are: Bentz, Wilhelm, Holtz, Baden, Pfalsgraff, Thiel, Poppel, MICHAEL BENZ, JR. One of the old-established and reliable business houses of Ripley County is that conducted under the firm style of Benz Company, Inc., at Batesville. This meat packing business was founded about 1891, by Michael Benz, Sr., and is now carried on by the founder’s sons, the eldest of whom is Michael Benz, Jr., who acts in the capacity of general manager. Mr. Benz was brought up in the business, with every detail of which he is thoroughly familiar. Under his capable management the enterprise has grown and developed to large and important proportions, and its products find a ready market over a wide expanse of territory. Mr. Benz is serving his third term in the capacity of president of the Chamber of Commerce, and is also one of the most prominent members of the Knights of Columbus in the state. Michael Benz, Jr., was born at New Alsace, Dearborn County, Indiana, in 1883, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Wilhelm) Benz. His grandfather, ! also named Michael Benz, was born in Germany, and came to the United States in young manhood, settling at New Alsace during the early ‘40s. He married Elizabeth Holtz, the daughter of a meat market owner, who was a son of a meat packer of Erlach, Baden, Germany. Michael Benz, Sr., was born at New Alsace, where he was widely and favorably known as a meat merchant for many years. About 1891 he founded the present business, with a small amount of equipment, and subsequently bought out John Pfalsgraff, whose plant he rebuilt, this being located on the outskirts of Batesville, with a store in the village. He continued to be identified with the business until 1921, in June of which year it was taken over by his sons, Michael, Joe, Leo and Hugo. Mr. Benz was a man of the highest character and reputation and was held in universal confidence and esteem. He was prominent in Democratic politics, and at one time served as a member of the board of trustees of the county. Mr. Benz! married Mary Wilhelm, and to this union there were born: Michael, of this review; Joseph, who sold his interest in the business of 1926; Leo, who married Adeline Thiel, of Batesville, and has two children, Virginia and Leo, Jr.; Hugo, who is unmarried; and Martha, deceased. Michael Benz, Jr., attended the Batesville schools until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he became associated with his father in the meat business. In June, 1921, the four brothers assumed control of the business and incorporated it as the Benz Company, Inc., with Michael Benz, Jr., as general manager. At that time they built a modern plant, consisting of four commodious brick buildings, with the latest modern machinery, and at present the company has one of the few modern rendering plants in the state. Michael Benz, Jr., is one of the leading businessmen of Batesville, and is serving his third term as president of the Chamber of Commerce, being also an active member of the Business ! Men’s Club. He is prominent in the Knights of Columbus, of which he was grand knight from 1914 to 1918, and state district deputy from 1918 until 1923. He is also an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was active in the Liberty Loan drives during the World war, and a member of the building committee of the Memorial Building, and he and the other members of the family are life members of the American Red Cross. Hugo Benz enlisted in the navy before the entrance of the United States into the war, and saw service on the U. S. Battleship Nevada, while Leo Benz enlisted in the army at the first call for troops, and after training at Camp Taylor saw eleven months of overseas service. Michael Benz married Miss Agnes Poppel, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of one daughter, Martha, who is attending school. The beautiful family home is situated at Walnut Hills, a suburb of Batesville.