The Claude (now Sonnet 4) artificial intelligence tool can be used to write family-friendly biographies of my ancestors that might interest and engage my relatives and descendants to help them learn about and understand their ancestry. Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is one ancestor biography.
2) For the Claude AI biography, I attached the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor using the plus (+) icon, and then prompted the AI tool with: "You are an expert genealogist. Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be engaging and suitable for family members."
David Auble (1817-1894): A Life Well-Lived
Early Life and Family Origins
David Auble was born in 1817 in the quiet community of Stillwater, Sussex County, New Jersey, during a time when America was still finding its footing as a young nation. He came from a large and close-knit family, being one of nine children born to John and Ann (Row) Auble.
David's siblings formed quite a clan: his older sisters and brothers included Sophia (1805-1887), William (1808-1875), Sarah (1811-1889), and Elizabeth (1814-1899). He had younger siblings as well - Nathan (1820-1886), Samuel (1823-1844), Hampton (1820-1907), and Robert (1830-1920). Tragically, the family would experience heartbreak when David's brother Samuel was killed in Philadelphia in 1844 during a violent altercation that stemmed from excessive drinking - a reminder of the rougher aspects of 19th-century urban life.
Marriage and Partnership
In 1844, David married Sarah G. Knapp in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. Sarah, born in January 1818, was likely from Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey, and was the daughter of William Knapp and Sarah Cutter. Their union appears to have been both a love match and a strategic alliance, as David had formed a business partnership with David L. Foster, who was married to Sarah's sister, Hannah Maria Knapp. It's quite possible that this business connection is how David first met his future bride.
The couple's marriage would span fifty years and produce six children, creating a loving family that would weather the challenges of 19th-century life together.
Professional Life and Entrepreneurial Spirit
David demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial spirit throughout his career as a boot and shoemaker. His business acumen was evident early on when, in 1838, he formed a partnership with David L. Foster. The two men established their shoemaking business in Newton, Sussex County, in a building that had recently been occupied by George Dennis, conveniently located next to W.T. Anderson's law office.
By 1844, David had invested in real estate, purchasing four acres of land with his partner David Foster in Newton from Nathan Drake for $310 - a significant sum for the time. His business relationships extended beyond simple partnerships; he also worked with Samuel C. Knapp (likely a relative of his wife) and later with Thomas Gordon in various boot and shoe enterprises.
David's reputation for "strict and honest business practices" became well-known throughout his career, a testament to his character in an era when such integrity was both valued and sometimes rare in commercial dealings.
Family Life and Children
David and Sarah raised six children together, each of whom would go on to lead interesting lives:
- William A. Auble (born about 1845) was their eldest son, born in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. He would eventually marry Mary Louise Thompson on March 28, 1880, in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, and later moved to Kansas City.
- Frances Mary "Fannie" Auble (October 1846 - January 4, 1917) was born in Newton and remained unmarried throughout her life. She lived to be 70 years old, passing away from heart trouble and pneumonia in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, where she was buried at Oakland Cemetery.
- Charles Auble (October 31, 1849 - March 23, 1916) was born in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. He became a painter and eventually married Georgianna Kemp on June 19, 1898, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His life took him far from his New Jersey roots, as he died in San Diego, California.
- Katherine "Kate" Auble (October 3, 1851 - May 31, 1940) was born in Newark and, like her sister Fannie, never married. She lived an exceptionally long life for the era, reaching 88 years old before passing away in Keokuk, Iowa, where she was buried alongside her sister at Oakland Cemetery.
- Anna Mattison Auble (February 24, 1859 - 1913) was born in Newark and married Henry Shannon Buntin on December 7, 1888, in Terre Haute, Indiana. She died in Bushnell, McDonough County, Illinois.
- Cora A. Auble (October 28, 1860 - January 13, 1876) was the youngest of the children, born in Newark. Tragically, she died at just 15 years old in Terre Haute, Indiana, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery there.
The Great Migration West
Around 1867, David made the significant decision to move his family from Newark, New Jersey, to Terre Haute, Indiana. This move reflected the westward migration patterns of many American families during the post-Civil War era, as people sought new opportunities in the expanding nation.
The family's move to Terre Haute was facilitated by David's extended family connections. In 1870, Sarah purchased land from Manning M. and Anna M. Knapp for $2,000 - Manning being David's brother-in-law. This property likely became the site of their family home at 411 Chestnut Street, where David would spend his remaining years.
Life in Terre Haute
In Terre Haute, David continued his boot and shoemaking business on Main Street, where he became "widely known for his strict and honest business practices." The family settled comfortably into their new community, with David accumulating substantial wealth for the time - by 1870, he owned $2,500 in real estate and $200 in personal property.
David became deeply involved in his community, joining the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, where he was known as a devout member. His political engagement was also notable - he took pride in having cast his first vote in 1840 for William Henry Harrison, a fact he often mentioned in his later years.
The Final Years
David's health began to decline in his later years, and he spent his final two years as an invalid, confined to his home at 411 Chestnut Street for over a year. Despite his physical limitations, he remained surrounded by family, with his wife and unmarried daughters Fannie and Katherine caring for him at home.
Death and Legacy
David Auble passed away on March 22, 1894, at the age of 77, in Terre Haute. His death marked the end of a life well-lived, spanning nearly eight decades of American history - from the early republic through the Civil War and into the industrial age.
His funeral was held at the family residence on Chestnut Street, reflecting the intimate, family-centered nature of his final farewell. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, where his large stone simply but elegantly reads "David Auble, 1817-1894."
Remembering David
David Auble's obituary painted the picture of a man who had earned the respect and admiration of his community. Described as "one of Terre Haute's most honored citizens," he was remembered not just for his business success, but for his integrity, his devotion to family, and his commitment to his faith.
His surviving family at the time of his death included his widow Sarah, five children (William in Kansas City, Charles in Chicago, Anna married to Harry Buntin in Bushnell, Illinois, and Fannie and Katherine at home), and three siblings - sister Elizabeth Auble of Philadelphia (then 80 years old), and brothers Robert Auble of Blairstown, New Jersey, and Hampton Auble of Philadelphia.
David Auble's life story represents the American dream of his era - a man who built a successful business through hard work and integrity, raised a large family, and contributed meaningfully to his community. His legacy lived on through his children and descendants, who carried forward the values of honesty, hard work, and family devotion that he had exemplified throughout his 77 years.
3) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of David Auble (1817-1894) can be found in "The Cobbler's Tale" --- A Family History Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be heard in that blog post, and below:
5) I asked AI to tell me about boot and shoemaking in America in the 19th century in Ask AI: "Describe Shoe and Boot Making In the mid-19th Century In America" based on David Auble's life.
6) I lightly edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts gleaned from my research." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including local and national historical events and social history detail.
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