USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Pioneers resting in historic Lindenwood, 1973 > Part 1
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toneers
Renting
in Mixtarir
Lindenwood
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/pioneersrestingi00paul
Pioneera Renting in
Tistarir
Fort Wayne, Indiana 1973
FOREWORD
Brief biographical sketches of many Fort Wayne pioneer men and women, published twice monthly in the local press by Lindenwood Cemetery, have attracted wide interest.
Because of many requests for reprint's of this series under one cover, we are grouping this work under the title, "Historic Lindenwood." Here you can see the drawings and read the short stories about many Hoosiers who led in the early development of Fort Wayne.
These illustrious men and women rest in Lin- denwood where one can find thousands of memorials relating to local, state and national history.
Research and writing for these capsule biog- raphies was done by Arthur M. Paulison, Executive Director of Lindenwood Cemetery. The drawings are by Morris R. Perry.
Fred J. Reynolds Head Librarian Fort Wayne Public Library
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"BIRD BOY" ART SMITH BLAZED PATH TO GLORY
Arthur R. "Art" Smith: 1890-1926. He is known as Fort Wayne's "Bird Boy", originator of sky- writing, king of the "loop-the-loop", and one of the Nation's early air daredevils.
Art's career, during which he astounded millions at home and in the Orient with his flying skill, came to a tragic end on the night of February 12, 1926. He died when his U.S. Airmail plane fell in Ohio-not far from Fort Wayne, where at the age of 16 he built his first plane, and later became one of America's great pioneer aviators. Smith Field, the airport north of the city, was named for him.
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FIRST AMERICAN WORLD WAR 1 ACE
Paul Frank Baer, 37, native of Fort Wayne, who rose to become America's first World War I ace, lost his life at Shanghai, December 9 ,1930, when a mail plane he was flying crashed during take-off. His body was brought to Fort Wayne where the city accorded him the largest military funeral in its history.
He served first with the French Air Service and then with the U.S. 103rd Aero Squadron. Within 45 days after he began combat flying, he had downed 16 German planes, receiving official credit for 9. France gave him her Legion of Honor and Croix-de-Guerre. He was the first aviator to re- ceive the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross. Fort Wayne's municipal airport terminal was named for him.
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CITY OWES MUCH TO SAMUEL HANNA
Samuel Hanna, 1797-1866. Fort Wayne owes much to the pioneering leadership of Judge Han- na. His enterprising adventures in fur and Indian trades, land speculation, and promotion of the Wabash-Erie Canal, plank roads and railroads, contributed greatly to the population increase and economic growth of this region.
He settled here in 1819, a year before the troops evacuated the Fort. Soon after opening a trading post at Barr and Columbia, Hanna's long and suc- cessful career was underway. He also took an active role in governmental policy-making, serving as associate judge of Allen County, state repre- sentative and state senator.
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PIONEER BANKER, COMMUNITY LEADER
Allen Hamilton: 1798-1864. He came to Fort Wayne in 1823, and rose to become a man of wealth and a leader in the commercial development of the community. He was Allen County's first sheriff and aided in negotiating a treaty with the Miami Indians.
Mr. Hamilton in 1835, was named president of the Indiana Branch Bank here, and in 1853, he along with Hugh McCulloch and Jesse L. Williams formed the Allen and Hamilton Co., forerunner of a number of Fort Wayne banking institutions.
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"ANGEL IN EBONY" DIED HERE IN 1893
Sammy Morris, born in 1873, the prince of Kroo tribe deep in Liberia, died in Fort Wayne, May 12, 1893, following a year's study here at Taylor Uni- versity. He became known as a famous Christian mystic and "Apostle of Simple Faith".
During his student days, Sammy joined the old Berry Street Methodist Church, and assisted in services there and at the African Methodist Epis- copal Church.
Taylor University named a dormitory in his mem- ory and remembers him as "The Angel in Ebony". Taylor seniors of 1928 erected a memorial in Sec- tion "14" in Lindenwood that gives permanent identity to his resting place.
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LEADER IN CREATING LINDENWOOD CEMETERY
Isaac D. Nelson (1810-1891) came to Fort Wayne in 1836 from Poughkeepskie, N.Y., acquired the Fort Wayne Sentinel and soon became a com- munity leader. In 1851, he was elected state rep- resentative and authored the famous Nelson rail- road act. He was a Purdue University trustee, State House Commissioner and aided in organiz- ing the Wabash railroad.
He was one of 12 incorporators of Lindenwood Cemetery and its first president, serving from 1860 to 1891. He married Elizabeth Rockhill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Rockhill, pioneer Fort Wayne residents. Their son, William Rockhill Nel- son, was founder of the Kansas City Star.
Isaac Nelson rests in Lindenwood where cemetery trustees erected an imposing monument to his memory.
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FAMOUS CIVIL WAR NURSE BURIED HERE
Mrs. Eliza E. George, (1808-1865) Fort Wayne's noted Civil War nurse, died of typhoid fever in an army camp, Wilmington, N.C., a month after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. She gave her life, like thousands of others, in the terrible struggle to preserve the Union. She accompanied Indiana regiments, nursing the sick, wounded, and became known affectionately as "Mother George."
Mrs. George was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery with full military honors and the Indiana Sanitary Commission erected a monument to her memory. She rests in the family plot of Fort Wayne's other great Civil War hero, Col. Sion S. Bass, who fell at Shiloh.
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INVENTIONS AIDED IN G. E. GROWTH
James J. Wood, (1856-1928) General Electric con- sulting engineer here for 38 years, was one of the Nation's foremost inventors. He began his career at Branford, Conn., at age 16, inventing a hori- zontal steam engine. Later he invented the "Wood" electrical system, playing an important role in early development of General Electric.
He held 240 patents, and was credited with de- veloping the dynamo for flood lights first used on the Statue of Liberty. His picture hangs in the Hall of Fame in New York City along with Edison and others.
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FUR TRADING LED TO EWING WEALTH
Col. George W. Ewing (1804-1866) was one of Fort Wayne's early pioneers. He, along with his brother, William G. Ewing, (1801-1854), became fur traders in 1826. Later their commercial en- terprises extended from the Alleghenies to the Rockies. Their combined estates exceeded two million dollars.
Their father, Col. Alexander Ewing, who fought in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, died in 1827. He was buried on Ewing property which later became a part of Lindenwood Cemetery.
Above the large Ewing underground vault in Lin- denwood is the $25,000 35-foot Ewing monu- ment, the finest single shaft of Scotch granite in America. Here also rests Charles W. Ewing, (1798- 1843) successful lawyer, eldest son of Alexander Ewing.
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SERVED 5 TERMS AS CITY'S MAYOR
Franklin P. Randall (1812-1892) was known as Fort Wayne's "Civil War" mayor. Elected in 1859, he served five successive terms with dis- tinction and honor.
He was educated in eastern academies and came here in 1838 to practice law. From time to time he held other governmental offices: County school commissioner, director of the State prison South, city recorder, city attorney and State senator. He was author of the city charter and designer of the city seal.
Mr. Randall played an active role in the develop- ment and building of railroads in this area. In the latter part of his career he conducted a successful legal, real estate and insurance business.
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JOHN W. DAWSON, LINCOLN APPOINTEE
John W. Dawson (1820-1877) had an outstanding career in early Fort Wayne history. He began practicing law here in 1843; became proprietor of his own newspaper in 1854, and in 1861 President Lincoln appointed him Territorial Gov- ernor of Utah.
Dawson served but a short time in Utah, returning here to his newspaper and to compile an early history of Fort Wayne. His essay on Johnny ( Chap- man) Appleseed has been the most important single source of data about Chapman. Other local historians like Griswold, Robertson, Detzer relied heavily on Dawson's work.
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BUILT CANALS AND RAILROADS
Jesse L. Williams (1807-1886) was educated in Cincinnati, and at 21, began a highly successful civil engineering career, surveying and construct- ing canal systems in Ohio and Indiana. In the mid 1800's he became one of the Nation's foremost engineers in building railroads in the Midwest and far west.
He came here as construction engineer for the Wabash-Erie Canal. In 1836, he was appointed the State's chief engineer of all canal routes in In- diana. He served as governor director of the Union Pacific Railway under Presidents Lincoln, Johnson and Grant. It was Williams who established the best location and lowest grade through the Rockies for this railroad.
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SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS, POLITICS
Alfred P. Edgerton, (1813-1897) politician and very successful businessman, was born and edu- cated at Plattsburg, N. Y. In 1837, he settled at Hicksville, O., where he managed extensive land holdings for the American Land Co. Later he be- came owner of 40,000 acres of valuable land in northwestern Ohio. He was elected to Congress in 1850, from Ohio, and re-elected in 1852.
He came to Fort Wayne in 1857, and with Hugh McCulloch and Pliny Hoagland leased the Wa- bash-Erie Canal, Edgerton becoming general man- ager. He was also active in Indiana politics and ran for lieutenant governor in 1868, but was de- feated. He served on the federal civil service board under appointment by President Cleveland.
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LED CONSOLIDATION OF RAILROAD LINES
Joseph K. Edgerton (1818-1893) attained wide prominence in political and railroad history in Fort Wayne and the Middle West. He came here in 1844, to practice law with former Governor Samuel Bigger.
Edgerton became interested in the construction of the first railroads in 1854. He was elected a director of the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad and later president, succeeding Judge Samuel Hanna. He led the consolidation of several rail- roads into the Pennsylvania Railroad. He served one term in Congress, being elected in 1862. He was known as one of the largest land owners in this region.
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LIBRARY EXPANDED UNDER HER CARE
Miss Margaret M. Colerick (1857-1934) served with great distinction as head of Fort Wayne-Allen County Library. She became assistant librarian in 1895, and three years later was chief librarian.
This kindly, cultured, little lady, truly laid the groundwork for the extensive expansion of the local library. During the 36 years of her leader- ship, the institution grew from a 3,600 book col- lection to a major library.
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MR
WARD SCHOOL NAMED FOR HIM
Louis C. Ward (1878-1931) was one of Fort Wayne's outstanding school administrators. He became instructor at Central High in 1907, its prin- cipal, 1915, superintendent of schools, 1920 to 1931. Under his dynamic leadership, new schools were erected, and the system climbed scholastical- ly, ranking with the best in the Nation.
Mr. Ward is buried in Lindenwood as are other noted Hoosier educators including Margaret M. MacPhail, John S. Irwin, and Chester T. Lane.
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CIVIL WAR HERO, LAWYER, HISTORIAN
Col. Robert S. Robertson (1839-1906) during the last half of the 19th century became a successful lawyer, politician and historian in Fort Wayne. He was born and educated in North Argyle, N.Y.
In 1861, he joined the Union Army, serving throughout most of the Civil War, advancing from private to colonel. He became a staff officer be- fore the Battle of Gettysburg; was wounded in the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse; participated in the siege of Petersburg. He received the Congres- sional Medal of Honor for gallantry in action.
He settled here in 1866, to practice law. Active in Republican politics, he served as city attorney and then as lieutenant governor of Indiana.
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MED
CHURCH FOUNDER IN FRONTIER DAYS
Henry W. Rudisill, (1801 - 1858) one of Fort Wayne's early pioneers, helped to lay the founda- tions of a thriving village. He and his family arrived here Christmas Day, 1829, from Lancaster, O., and were escorted to their new home by Samuel Hanna and Allen Hamilton.
Rudisill assisted in the work of U. S. land agents, John T. Barr and John McCorkle, and later Rudi- sill's enterprises included a gristmill, sawmill, tan- nery and a woolen mill. He was a deeply religious man, directing the founding of St. Paul's Lutheran Church as well as Trinity English Lutheran Church. The pulpit in Trinity Church is a memorial to Henry W. and Elizabeth Rudisill, provided by their daughter, Eliza Rudisill, who died in 1929.
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1
CAPT. FAIRFIELD, SEAMAN TO FARMER
Capt. Asa Fairfield, (1797-1868) a seafaring man, born in Kennebunkport, Me., settled here in 1834, where he operated the first boat on the Wabash- Erie Canal. He served in the War of 1812, aboard one of the first privately owned ships licensed by the government to act against enemy shipping. He was taken prisoner by the British and confined for six months in Dartmouth Prison.
After working on the canal, Capt. Fairfield pur- chased a large tract of land south of Fort Wayne and became a successful farmer. He was active in the old Second Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Lodge.
Fairfield Avenue was named in his honor.
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LEADER IN EARLY CITY DEVELOPMENT
William Rockhill (1793-1865) came here in 1823, from Burlington, N.J., and for 42 years was one of the leaders in the commercial development and political life in Fort Wayne. Soon after his arrival he acquired a large tract of land in the Broadway area. It was recorded as Rockhill additions. He built the historic Rockhill house at Broadway and Main, which later became a part of St. Joseph's Hospital.
Rockhill was a member of the first board of county commissioners; served two terms as state repre- sentative; was one of the pioneers in the estab- lishment of the city's public school system; served as a member of the first city council. He was a state senator in 1844, and in 1846, was elected U.S. Congressman.
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MASONIC LEADER FOR 45 YEARS
William Geake (1849-1927) for 45 years was identified with every important development in Fort Wayne and Indiana freemasonry. He be- came a Mason in 1871, at Steubenville, O. In 1882, he led the movement resulting in chartering four Fort Wayne Scottish Rite bodies; was Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Indiana, 1899-1900; be- came Scottish Rite Deputy for Indiana in 1902, holding that office until 1927.
Born in Bristol, England, Mr. Geake settled here in 1878. A stone cutter by trade, he served as fore- man during construction of the old Masonic Temple, East Wayne and Clinton.
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A GRACIOUS LADY OF PIONEER DAYS
Mrs. Emerine Jane Hamilton, (1810-1889) wife of Allen Hamilton, prominent Fort Wayne pioneer merchant and banker, was one of Hoosierland's great ladies: She loved good literature, worked and gave generously in community charities, and was a devoted member and leader in the First Presbyterian Church.
She was the daughter of Judge Jesse L. Holman, chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. After her marriage she came here with her husband in 1827, and they first resided in the Old Fort. Mrs. Hamilton started the first public reading room, fore- runner of our public library, and was a pioneer in the woman sufferage movement.
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FOUNDER LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE
Arthur F. Hall (1872-1942) was founder of Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and for 37 years one of Fort Wayne's outstanding business and civic leaders. He entered the life insurance field in 1904 in Indianapolis, and in 1905 came to Fort Wayne to direct the organization of Lincoln Life. In the beginning he served as secretary and general manager, directed the sale of the $100,000 stock to organize, and wrote most of the firm's business. After the first 100 days, the company had $532,000 life insurance in force.
Mr. Hall became Lincoln Life president in 1923 and board chairman in 1939. He lived to see the firm expand beyond a billion dollars in ordinary life insurance in force. He was a brilliant leader of men, a business genius, a lovable friend.
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SWINNEYS LEAVE TWO MEMORIALS
Col. Thomas W. Swinney (1803-1875) was one of Fort Wayne's early settlers. Arriving here in 1822, from Piketon, Ohio, he found a small settlement surrounding the old fort. His successful career began a year later when he made his initial pur- chase of government land west of town. As his land holdings increased, he became prominent in farming, and widely interested in political affairs of Fort Wayne, state and nation.
He married Lucy Taber here in 1827, daughter of Capt. Paul Taber, also a prosperous land owner. Col. Swinney and his wife built the Swinney home- stead in 1844, and today it houses the priceless collections of the Allen County-Fort Wayne His- torical Society.
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PUBLISHER SERVED AS FIRST MAYOR
George W. Wood (1808-1871) newspaper pub- lisher, politician and businessman, had a promi- nent part in the early development of Fort Wayne. He came here in 1836, joining The Sentinel as a printer and a year later was its publisher. He sold The Sentinel in 1840, and became publisher of The Fort Wayne Times.
He was elected Fort Wayne's first mayor in 1840, and re-elected in 1841. In 1849, he was appointed by President Fillmore to head the Fort Wayne land office. In 1855, he sold his newspaper holdings to John W. Dawson, and then served as administra- tor of the vast Samuel Hanna estate.
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SERVED IN 12TH'S FAMED REGIMENT
Capt. John M. Godown (1832-1911) former Fort Wayne city clerk, civil engineer and prominent Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway of- ficial, was one of this city's distinguished Civil War soldiers.
Godown served with Company K, Twelfth Indiana Regiment, participating in 28 battles during the long and costly struggle to preserve the Union. This regiment fought at Richmond, Ky., and then joined Grant at Memphis. It served in the seige and victory at Vicksburg. Godown was with Sher- man in the long march from Memphis to Chatta- nooga. The Twelfth also fought at Mission Ridge, at Knoxville, and in the Atlanta campaign. It marched with Sherman to Savannah, into the Caro- linas and south to Richmond, Va.
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PROMINENT LAWYER OVER HALF CENTURY
James M. Barrett, Sr., (1852-1929) after studying law in Chicago, came to Fort Wayne in 1876, where he became one of the ablest lawyers in the Middle West. For over a half century he repre- sented some of the largest business interests here in his capacity as corporation lawyer.
At the time of his death, Mr. Barrett was senior member of the legal firm, Barrett, Barrett & Mc- Nagny. He was president and chief legal counsel for the Fort Wayne and Northern Indiana Traction Co., 1913-1917, which later reorganized as Indiana Service Corp., and now part of Indiana-Michigan Electric Co.
Mr. Barrett served two terms as Indiana State Sen- ator, and in 1889, authored the Barrett law.
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S. M. FOSTER LED IN CITY'S GROWTH
Samuel M. Foster (1851-1935) was one of Fort Wayne's most outstanding business and civic lead- ers. His career began as a cash-boy and bundle wrapper in a New York store. Later he was gradu- ated by Yale University where he achieved a bril- liant scholastic record. Coming here in 1879, Mr. Foster embraced an interest in law, journalism, manufacturing and merchandising.
His successful business enterprises led him into the field of banking and life insurance. He was one of the organizers of Lincoln National Bank & Trust Co. and Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. For both institutions he was their first president and later board chairman. He was truly a driving force in the development of the city.
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SOLDIER, EMINENT MERCHANT, BANKER
James B. White, (1835-1897) wealthy Fort Wayne merchant, Civil War veteran, congressman and banker, settled here in 1854. He came from Scot- land. The last leg of his journey was by packet boat over the Wabash-Erie Canal from Toledo.
He began work as a tailor with Nirdlinger and Op- penheimer's clothing store. He married Maria Brown of Fort Wayne, and in 1859, opened his own tailoring shop. In 1861, he sold his prosperous business to join the Union Army. Serving as a captain, he fought at Pittsburg Landing and was wounded at Shiloh.
After the war, White formed a firm which later be- came the successful White Fruit House, a super- market of its time. Active in politics, he served one term as U. S. Congressman.
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PIONEERED IN MODERN SURGERY
Dr. Miles F. Porter, Sr., (1856-1933) practiced here for 54 years and became a nationally known surgeon, pioneering in the advancement of modern surgery.
After 1900, he confined his practice exclusively to surgery and obstetrics. As chief of the old Hope Hospital medical staff, Dr. Porter built the first operating room on the hospital grounds, site of downtown Y.M.C.A. He is known to have per- formed the first gallbladder operation in the Middle West and to have performed one of the first ap- pendectomies in the history of surgery.
He was one of the original organizers of Indiana University Medical School, served for a time on its faculty, and was one of the founders of the Ameri- can College of Surgeons.
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PIONEERED FIRST ELECTRIC PLANTS
Ronald T. McDonald (1849-1898) before the turn of the century was one of Fort Wayne's most suc- cessful pioneers in the electric light industry. His management of the Fort Wayne Jenney Light Com- pany and its successor firms, in manufacturing of arch light equipment, eventually led to the estab- lishment of the local G.E. works.
Born in Pennsylvania, he came here in 1860. Be- fore reaching age 15, he joined the Union Army in 1864, as a drummer boy, serving with Company C, 152nd Indiana Infantry. After the close of the war, he returned here becoming a dry goods clerk. Later he met James and Charles Jenney, who had perfected a dynamo and arch lighting system. They pooled their engineering and promotional knowledge, launching the first electric light busi- ness in Fort Wayne.
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PAST G.E. HEAD, BANK PRESIDENT
Fred S. Hunting (1867-1951) was born in Temple- ton, Mass., and upon graduation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1888, he came to Fort Wayne to enter the employ of Fort Wayne Jenney Light Co. He remained with the firm, through changes of corporate organization, becoming the first general manager of the local G.E. plant in 1916, and then resigning in 1922, to head Robbins & Myers Co., in Springfield, O.
He retired in 1927, making his home in Los Angeles until 1933, when he returned here to as- sume the presidency of the newly organized Fort Wayne National Bank. He became chairman of the bank board in 1941, and retired as an active officer in 1947, going to Cincinnati to make his home.
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LEADER OF VAST UTILITY COMBINE
Robert M. Feustel, (1884-1932) born and reared in Fort Wayne, became a nationally known public service engineer and utility executive. He headed numerous utilities of the Middle West with a com- bined capitalization of $300,000,000.
He was president of Indiana Service Corp., a com- bined street railway, light and power company in Fort Wayne; vice-chairman of Northern Indiana Public Service; president, Midland United, utility holding company; president, Indiana Railroad Sys- tem; president, Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad, and president, Public Service Com- pany of Indiana.
Mr. Feustel was graduated by Purdue University and began his professional career with the old Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley Traction Co.
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LED IN FOUNDING OLD W&D STORE
Samuel Wolf, (1868-1960) born and educated here, was an outstanding and highly respected businessman, financier and former merchant, and contributed much to Fort Wayne as a civic leader.
Mr. Wolf was co-founder with Myron E. Dessauer in 1896 of the old Wolf & Dessauer store, prede- cessor of L. S. Ayres downtown store. He led the way in new merchandising methods and W & D became an institution in Fort Wayne-a pleasant place to shop and dine. He sold his interest in the store in the early 1920s and then devoted himself to financial and real estate interests.
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PERRY A. RANDALL HONORED BY CITY
Perry A. Randall, (1847-1916) in a span of 43 years, became a successful Fort Wayne attorney, home-builder, manufacturer and leader in com- munity development. Shortly after his death, Fort Wayne citizens erected in East Swinney Park a bronze portrait bust of Mr. Randall, commemorat- ing his many civic achievements.
He began practicing law here in 1867, and in 1881, became a partner with William J. Vesey and their legal firm became most successful. Mr. Randall also owned and operated the city's first home building company, the Tri-State Building & Loan Co. He also owned and operated the old Randall Hotel, and had extensive holdings in wholesale lumber firms.
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PERFECTION BISCUIT COMPANY FOUNDER
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