For those of you who never met Frank Hohenberger or heard of him, we’d like to introduce you, our readers, to him.

Mr. Hohenberger was born Jan. 4, 1876, in Defiance, Ohio, the son of John and Louise Hohenberger. Mr. Hohenberger was married to the former Kate Banta of Martinsville, but later was divorced.

He learned the printing trade during his early life, and in 1902, received his membership card in the International Typographical Union. He retained membership in ITU throughout his life.

Mr. Hohenberger developed an interest in photography at an early age, and in 1909, became a photographer for H. Lieber Company of Indianapolis. He worked for Lieber from 1909 until 1914 when he left to work in the composing room of the Indianapolis Star.

In 1917, he moved to Nashville, Indiana, and a few years later began writing his columns, “Down in the Hills O’Brown County.” His column first appeared in the Star, June 10, 1923. In 1952, Mr. Hohenberger wrote a book under the column name. His columns were a combination of dialect, rustic humor and the happenings in Brown County.

His photography was of the homey, familiar things that were and still are a part of Brown County. Harvests, weavers plying their trade, lakes, fox hunters, the little town of Bean Blossom, gold mining machinery, artists, a covered bridge, scenic landscapes and an old log jail where subjects for his camera. Possibly his most famous picture, “The Liar’s Bench,” was made in the courthouse yard at Nashville in 1923. The bench reputedly was a meeting place for the best storytellers in the county.

When he observed his 86th birthday, he remarked: “People keep giving me credit for putting Brown County on the map. But the credit is due The Star and Jimmy Stuart” (James A. Stuart, editor emeritus of The Star.)

In a forward to Mr. Hohenberger’s book, Stuart wrote that “when the soft-voiced, friendly and rather shy young man quit his job as a printer and said he intended to leave the ‘camera business,’ his fellow compositors said, ‘he’ll be back.’

“Hohenberger was never to return to the printing trade, although he kept his membership in the ITU.

“He got the urge to go to Brown County when he saw some pictures a friend had made there. With meager savings in his pocket, he set out for Nashville where, as he later wrote, he found restfulness that brings inspiration.

“His talks with his neighbors in leisure hours from his developing photographic business led to the urge to write about their shrewd and apt comments on human foibles.

“The homespun philosophy that was a part of his writings was expressed when he wrote in defense of his neighbors, ‘Much fun has been poked at us for being saturated with still life. (We do not mean that which comes from a still.) Yes, we take things pretty easy, live a little longer than you city club folks, and surely get everything worthwhile out of life. We ain’t bothered with keepin’ up with the styles and sich like, and you can bet your last dollar that we’re goin’ to stand just as good a chance as you of seeing St. Peter at the toll gate.”

Mr. Hohenberger, the “Sage of Brown County,” internationally known for his photography and more than 28 years a columnist for the Indianapolis Star, died Friday, Nov. 15, 1963, in Fayette Memorial Hospital at Connersville. He was 87 years old. Funeral services for Mr. Frank M. Hohenberger, were held at the Bond Funeral Home on Sunday evening, Nov. 17, with the Rev. Warren Chafin conducting the rites. Internment was made in Crown Hill Mausoleum with Rev. Edward Simon conduction services there.

Peaceful Valley Heritage has ordered a historical marker for Mr. Hohenberger that will be placed in front of the Nashville House in the near future.

Part of this article came from the Brown County Democrat, Nov. 21, 1963.

— Submitted by Pauline Hoover and Rhonda Dunn, Brown County Historical Society

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Nov. 9 and 10:

• Frank M. Hohenberger exhibit
• Abe Martin Bazaar
• Chili supper

For details, see Community Calendar.

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