USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Some Fort Wayne phizes > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
phig
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
VIVVVVVVVV
Some Fort Wayne Phizes
1416078
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS BOOK
T HIS portfolio of little cartoons, showing " Some Fort Wayne Phites" has no mission whatsoever except to provide a little entertainment for those who examine its pages, and, incidentally, to assist the man who pub- lished it to pay his next winter's coal bills with the proceeds. It is neither a history nor a bunch of biographies. We haven't pried into the family affairs of the people herein presented. Information of that kind is carefully recorded in family Bibles and the county clerk's books; we would suggest that you interview the neighbors if you want to find out their faults.
In the preparation of the articles accompanying the pictures, we have had the valuable assistance of our newspaper associates who know "all about every- body" in Fort Wayne. The pictures, both snapshot and word, are as inoffensive as we could make them, and if you-an inhabitant of this sorrowful old worldt- can find anything to smile at, surely the effort has not been entirely in vain.
BIG Griswold
Fort Wayne, Indiana, September, 1904.
Ok wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us And foolish notion. - Bobbie Burns.
HENRY C. BERGHOFF
A FEW years ago-not many-a German emigrant train bound for Chicago pulled into a Fort Wayne station. Among the weary passengers who peered through the dingy windows of the coaches was a husky, barefooted hoy with a round face composed largely uf ruddy cheeks. As he looked, he saw a drug store on the corner of Calhoun and Chicago streets, and without much hesitation he hurried out of the car. ran over to the store and asked for a pretzel, for he was hungry. The proprietor asked him a few idle questions, during which he became interested in the lad.
"I want a boy like you to run my soda fountain," he said, in German.
"How much will you pay?" inquired the lad. "Six dollars a week, " returned the druggist.
Without making reply. the boy bounded out of the store, dropping the unfinished fractional portion of his pretzel in his haste, and disappeared into the coach, while the druggist stood looking after him in wonder- ment. Directly, the boy reappeared, dragging after him all of his personal effects wrapped up in two large market baskets.
Silently, and with a trace of tears in his eyes, he watched the train disappear, and then he said, "I'll take the job."
As we have noted, he was barefooted, but ever since then Henry C. Berghoff has been putting on things. One of the things he did in his early Fort Wayne career was to put on American airs, and later a course in school and a law college. Then he got into the garb of City Comptroller for Fort Wayne, and still later, in 1901, he put on the best suit we have to offer-the mayoralty. Since then, he has been getting into a variety of things. from city water to hot water.
MAYOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE
CITY ORD. -IN- AN- CES
RULES FOR
PLAY ING SKAT
MAP OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER
ROBERT S. TAYLOR
R OBERT S. TAYLOR is the modest way the "Judge" writes it. Without the handle, few know which Taylor it is and with it every body knows that Fort Wayne's hig electrical patent lawyer who won the night of the Independents against the Bell Telephone monopoly is meant. The Judge's success is due to his power of concentration of mind. It is related of him, by a Fort Wayne business man, that meeting him on one occasion on a train. a topic of large international interest was mentioned. The judge had not heard of it. When wonder was expressed he said he had been su engrossed in a law suit for six weeks that he had not looked at a news- paper in that time. He draws lig fees for that kind of Service to his chents.
Judge Taylor is a public speaker who gives his audi- ence a logical argument, without invective or abuse. expressed in the finest of literary form and embellished with bright gleams of humor. His special fitness for a great national work brought him the appointment by President Garheld in 1881 of member of the Mississippi River commission, through the influence of his close friend General Benjamin Harrison, afterwards president. He still holds the office. His hair is silvered now with his 67 years but his tongue was silvered with eloquence betore he was graduated from the college his reverend father taught in Jay county. His persuasive powers won the heart of his classmate Miss Fannie Wright and they gave their friends a surprise by being united in marnage on the college stage. His title of judge was fairly won by being appointed to the local bench in the '60's by the governor. He built the Elektron block in a manner to endure for centuries. He was born in Chilli- cothe, Ohio, but has been always a loyal and devoted citizen of the city of his early adoption. On the other hand there is no itizen in whom the people of Fort Wayne take a higher pride or hold in greater esteem.
SAMUEL M. FOSTER
M R. FOSTER is, perhaps, the most contrary person in Fort Wayne. This peculiar trait cropped out several years ago at the time he decided to discontinue the profitable business of selling dry goods, to launch out into his present line of industry. His solicitous friends, fearing he was making a grave mistake, called un him and deposited this bit of sage advice:
** Be careful, now, not to let your money go to waste."
As might have been expected of a man of his dispo- sition, he immediately disregarded the well-meant m- junction and proceeded without delay to let a large portion of his capital go to ** waist." The result is one of Indiana's biggest industries, one which furnishes to the sensible women of the nation the most becoming and comfortable article of apparel yet devised, Mr. Foster makes thousands of these every week. It must not be understood, however, that he does all of the work him- self. No, he has a few hundred assistants and they help him quite a bit.
Mr. Foster has two hobbies besides shirt waists. One is the making of Hope Hospital into a blessing to the afflicted of the community, and the other is the dissemi- nation of good cheer in other ways such as the shirt waists and the hospital may not be able to reach. He is a Yale graduate, a Mason and an Elk, a popular atter- dinner speaker, a leader in the splendid efforts of the Commercial club and a lovely vocalist when it comes to singing the praises of Fort Wayne.
Mr. Foster is a native of Coldenham, New York, His Successful business career was begun in that state. For a few minutes he was a newspaper man at Dayton. Oho, before finally settling in Fort Wayne. To enumer- ate the big things he has done to assist in the develop- ment of this city, or even to mention the commercial con- cerns in which he is a leading light would require many times the amount of space we have to spare. His new- est important venture is in connection with the German- American National Bank of which he is the president.
0
WILLIAM P. BREEN
H AD the snapshot been made a half second later, the scene would have been wholly different. The hall, for instance, would be entirely out of sight, cutting swiftly through the atmosphere of the farm adjoining the Kekionga links. Dr. Breen is about to swat it. We are aware that isn't the correct word to use. but we newspaper folks are too busy to learn the game-to say nothing of learning golf terms-so that descriptive word must suffice to tell what is about to happen. By the way. this gentleman is the only lawyer in Fort Wayne who has the title of "Doctor" as a prefix to his name. To him, although not a practicing physician or a doctor of divinity, it rightly belongs. He is a Ph. D., a doctor of philosophy. the degree having been conferred upon him by the Notre Dame University, of which institution he is a graduate. It is an honorary mark of distinction fittingly bestowed, for in literary attamments he is far advanced.
Dr. Breen was chosen president of the Indiana Bar Association, to which office he was elected in July of 1903, holding that honorable position one year until the the meeting of the association was held in this city last July. As a lawyer he ranks among the leading practi- tioners of the city and state. He came to Fort Wayne from Terre Haute when a lad five years old. This has been his home since. His father had been engaged in mercantile pursuits. These, however, were not to the son's liking. He preferred the professions, and, after attending the Brothers' school in this city and gradnat- ing from Notre Dame in 1877, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in this city in 1879. He is a polished orator. On public occasions, when a scholastic address is to be delivered, he is one of the men in Fort Wayne most frequently selected, and he is never disappointing to his audience.
He has been president of the Kekionga Golf Club, and, as you see. thoroughly enjoys the game.
8
G. WILLIAM WILSON
H ERE is a ". Major " who has never been at the " front." It is an even wager, however, that he has never been found in the rear. He is always right there with the goods. He does not like to be called " Majah." He says it sounds to much like a mint julep tastes. He was a major on the staff of the late Gover- nor Hovey and went with that distinguished statesman on his tour through Mexico.
Billy Wilson went into politics early and was chair- man of the Allen county Republican central committee at so tender an age that he was thought precocious, but he soon proved himself a general. He is known in politics throughout the state and has an acquaintance all over Hoosierdom. He is also conspicuous in Masonic circles of the state and is a noted Elk. He is past exalted ruler of the Fort Wayne Lodge of Elks and in this body he has made a reputation for himself as an orator. He has been toastmaster at more Elk banquets and social sessions than all other Elks put together. He is called upon to officiate as symposiarch just because he knows exactly how to do the trick gracefully and with keen wit and ex- cellent good humor.
The snapshot of him taken as toastmaster is not true to life in one particular. Billy always turns his glasses down at a banquet like the late President Hayes. The glass in front of him belongs to the next cover north. The Major's oratory sparkles like champagne, but he doesn't know it. His eloquence flows too easily for him to appreciate its true worth. This is one reason that he never responds to a toast unless called upon to do so. He is Past Grand Trouble Maker tor the Sublime Order of Keyholes and other side lines. At present he is In- diana agent for the Barber Asphalt Paving Company and has served his company thoroughly. Billy has many friends socially and in business circles and they all like him.
TOAST
ASPHALT
CONTRAL
REFLECTION →1902-
JAMES M. ROBINSON
THIS cartoon, entitled "Robinson Crew-So" appeared in the Daily News the evening after the November election in 1902, when, for the fourth time. the Hon. James M. Robinson was elected to congress from this district. It is the democratic rooster that perches on his hand. For his personal victories, it is the sixth time this towl has flopped its wings and sent forth its trium- phant "cock-a-doodle-do" for "Jim." In 1886 and 1888 he was elected prosecuting attorney of this county and In 1890, 1898, 1900 and 1902 he was elected congressman from this, the Twelfth congressional district. For each of these offices he was nominated unanimously as he was June 17, 1904, for a fifth term In 1892. at the age of thirty, he was a candidate for congress and came within four delegate votes of receiving the nomination, which four years later was given him unanimously.
Mr. Robinson is a graduate of the University of "Hardknocks. " He is an Allen county boy. He was born in Pleasant township in this county in 1861 and came to Fort Wayne, with his mother. when he was ten years old and educated himself and supported his mother. At the age of eleven he was a newshoy on the streets of Fort Wayne and at fourteen was a collector for the Daily News. When he was fifteen years old he took employ- ment as a machine hand and, until 1881, pursued his studies during leisure hours from work. He quit the shops when he was twenty years of age and, having previously studied law, was practicing in the courts for six months before his admission to the bar and while he was yet under twenty-one. He passed his examination and was licensed to practice law in the United States and ;the state courts in 1882. In fourteen years from that time he was in congress, but no honor bestowed has changed the social side of " Jim." as he is familiarly called.
GEORGE W. STOUT
H ERE we see Mr. Stout doing his illustrated song. "Bringing in the Thieves." However only one thief is shown in the view. He is a horse-thief, and Mr. Stout usually brings them back in bunches when he goes after them.
Sheriff Stout will not he Sheriff Stout after the first of the year, because an unwritten law says a man can't hold the office more than one term no matter how good he is or how much good he has done for the people whose interests he is hired to protect. He isn't a candidate, anyway.
Mr. Stout is a Buckeye. Carroll County, Ohio, is the place of his birth. He made his advent in 1846. Though only sixteen years of age when the war broke out, he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-sixth Ohio, and was a busy man in Uncle Sam's employ for over two years and a half. His ready musket did active service at the battles of Champion Hill, Grand Gulf and the engagements of the siege of Vicksburg. In 1865 he received his honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio.
Then Mr. Stout became a Hoosier. He came to Allen county in 1867 and settled on a farm in Monroe town- ship, three miles east of Monroeville. For thirteen years, while following his occupation of farming. he dressed and cleared timber and did a good business in shipping poultry to the New York market.
When Edward Clausmeier became sberiff of Allen county eleven years ago, Mr. Stout was appointed one of his deputies, a position he continued to hold under Sheriff Melching. It was this long experience that fitted him for his two terms in the sheriff's office. He has always been a staunch Democrat. He is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a splendid all-round citizen.
SHERIFF
11
JOHN MOHR, JR.
T is altogether probable that there isn't a man in Fort Wayne who has handled more money than John Mohr, Jr., the cashier of the Hamilton National bank. If he was the owner of all the money he has counted he would be able to live in a house built of gold. The wealth of Croesus, the Vanderbilts, the Rothschilds and the Goulds wouldn't compare with his. And there isn't a man in Indiana who can count money faster. He can almost do it with his eyes shut. At least. even with his eyes shut, a counterfeit bill or com couldn't impose itself on him. He can tell either by the feel of his fingers.
Nor are Mr. Mohr's abilities to count money rapidly. add long rows of figures and calculate interest and dis- counts his only superior qualifications. He is a musician. Music with him is not a profession, but an accomplish- ment. He is a skilled organist and pianist. There are few better. When he is at the keys, the instruments send forth their sweetest and most harmomous notes. He is a scholar. Literature and art and science have received his study. He is a traveler. He has been over England, down the Rhine, up the Alps and through Italy. He is a politician-not in the sense of seeking office, however. He understands men and affairs and the art of government. Official positions of honor and responsibility have come to him unsought. Twice has this been the case. From 1882 to 1886 he was a member of the city council and again from 1894 to 1898, the latter years as councilman-at-large. During both terms he served his constituency with distinguished ability, And to what has been said of this man in the picture it might be added that John Mohr, Jr., is public-spirited and companionable, immensely so.
I2
EDWARD C. MILLER
H ERE is a man who sells business blocks and fine residences each work day in the year-a brick at a time. Edward C. Miller is the manager of the Fort Wayne Brick and Tile Company.
When Ed was a small boy, he always wanted cake with thick frosting, even in his mud-pie days. But he did not like crust. Now he is as busy as he can be hunt- ing for crust. What he needs is good hard crusts of clay. Then he begins his mud-pie days again and makes the finest mud ever mixed. He bakes it till it is red. He likes thick walls in buildings if they are made of brick and he don't care how high up a skyscraper goes. Ed wears a hat just because he is also engaged in the tile business ; and this is no joke.
Ed wasn't horn last week but he happened in New Haven, Indiana, and this, of course, is about the same thing. His father came to Fort Wayne when Ed was small and he seldom mentions New Haven. He is now enthusiastic for the growth of Fort Wayne. The faster the town grows the more important Ed teels. He meas- ures his pleasure at the rate of a brick at a time. Ed's father was at one time publisher of the Daily Journal but with keen foresight Ed knew that there was more money in dirt, sunburned, than in printers' ink that was black in the face-of the type.
Before settling down to a clay basis, Ed traveled for a wholesale hardware house of Cleveland and was a most successful salesman. He sold heavy hardware and wanted lighter work. He got right down to hard- pan at once in the brick business and says he is glad of it. Socially Ed is a popular fellow. He is a very prom- inent Elk and a Scottish Rite Mason. For two terms he was a member of the city council from the Eighth ward. As a municipal statesman he was useful and orna- mental.
-
NEWTON W. GILBERT
L' IEUTENANT-GOVERNOR GILBERT, whom the Re- publicans have named as their candidate for congress, seems always to have been a busy man.
In 1862. he was born in the little town of Worthing- ton, Ohio, where his father conducted a country store. It was here and on the farm that the future statesman was introduced to that which makes for good quality of manhood-hard work. He was able. however, to go through the common schools, and then, in order to get the means to attend the Ohio State University, he learned the printers' trade, worked as a book agent and later taught school in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He gave all his spare time to the study of law. In 1886, he was ap- pointed county surveyor of Steuben county, Indiana, where he had settled as a school teacher. He was twice elected to this office and in 1890 began the practice of law. This initial public honor was followed by his nomination for prosecuting attorney of the thirty-fifth judicial circuit. In 1896 he was elected state senator for the Steuben-Lagrange district. His work in the senate gave him a state reputation which brought about his election as heutenant-governor in 1900. In this import- ant position, his popularity increased greatly and he became prominently mentioned in connection with the Republican nomination tor governor, but dechned. He was then made the nominee of his party for congress.
Mr. Gilbert, as captain of Company H. One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Indiana Volunteers, led his company to the south at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. As president of the Indiana commission to the Saint Louis Exposition, he is taking a place of promi- nence in the state's affairs at the great show. He is a member of the important law firm of Gilbert, Berghoff & Wood.
JAMES B. WHITE
THE lay of the minstrel song bird is sweet music to the ears of many of our citizens. Whenever a rooster crows and a bunch of hens begin to cackle like women at a missionary tea then James White pricks up his ears and smiles. He is one of the greatest and most successful chicken fanciers that ever stepped into a hencoop. He organized the poultry association which has given such successful shows in Fort Wayne and has been instrumental in increasing the interest in poultry raising in northern Indiana. He raises the best single combed White Leghorns that ever scratched oyster shells. His coops are lined with prize ribbons. His pigeon lofts attract attention all over America.
Jim began to eat chickens at the home of his father in Fort Wayne about thirty years ago. He has liked chickens ever since. After eating enough chickens to make him grow some, he went through the Fort Wayne public schools. Later he went to the Oxford, Ohio, University. Then he got a setting or two of brass buttons and went to the Chester. Pennsylvania, Military School. He came out with a sword in each hand and honor straps on each shoulder. He was ready for the business struggle and entered the store of his father, the late Hon. James B. White, and has risen rapidly in mercantile pursuits. His old play-ground was Barr street and the vacant lots near the city building. He has seen the aforementioned play-ground develop into usefulness and he has made continuous strides with the march of its progress. He is popular and active in the social, political and business world.
ALBERT E. CARROLL
H ERE is the happy phiz of the man who has charge of the big state institution located in Fort Wayne, the indiana School for Feeble-Minded Youth. You will notice that he has the place well in hand.
Mr. Carroll is a man young in years for the holding of such a responsible position. but he makes up for it and more too in experience and thorough knowledge of the important duties which the state of Indiana has en- trusted to him. He's a Housier, having first seen the sun's brilliant rays streaming across a stretch of farm land in Jennings county. At the age of four, he was taken to Kentucky by his parents, where he stayed five years. Removing to Indianapolis he attended school awhile and then entered the claim department of the Railway Officials' and Employes' Accident Association. Here he developed into an expert accountant. In July, 1893, he gave up the place to come to Fort Wayne to begin his career at the State School in the capacity of bookkeeper. Through his continued good efforts he rose to the positions of head bookkeeper, steward, assistant superintendent and overseer of industries. For seven years before his appointment as superintendent to suc- ceed Alexander Johnson, resigned, he had been in close touch with all departments of the institution, so that while the new place brought greater responsibilities. they came to a man thoroughly competent tu deal with them. Mr. Carroll has the confidence of the large corps of instructors and attendants at the institution, and the work has progressed splendidly under his direction. Mr. Carroll is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a lively member of the Commercial Club.
16
JOSEPH L. SMITH
O NCE upon a time Dr. Smith took it upon himself to reach out and feel the public pulse. At that time he lived in Madison township. He diagnosed the case at once and decided that the public needed his services as auditor of Allen County. He then asked the public to show its tongue. The tongue also seemed to say that the doctor was wanted in the auditor's office. Then he examined its heart. That, too, appeared to beat warmly for him. And so he came out as candidate for auditor on the democratic ticket in 1902, and was elected. Since then, he has given his professional services to the county in watching carefully the condition of the records of the other county officials whose work must pass under his gaze. And that's why Smith left home. He dreamt he dwelt in marble halls and it became a reality.
The doctor came to Hoosierdom in 1873. but he wasn't a doctor then. He was born fifty-two years ago in Dayton, Ohio, the town to which our ball players now go at irregular intervals and liven up things for the excitement-loving Buckeyes. One day he decided to become a physician so he went to Cincinnati and entered a college of medicine. In 1878 he came forth from the institution and returned to Indiana to follow his profes- sion. His fondness for his farm, however, has kept him there much of the time.
When Dr. Smith came to join the court house crowd he proved to be a jolly contribution to that lively com- pany. He enjoys his work immensely, takes a little hunting jaunt when work is light and often goes out to his farm to do enough of the chores to keep in practice.
ALLEN CO. RECORDS
CHARLES B. WOODWORTH
M R. WOODWORTH was born in our midst a little over a half a century ago and has been in our midst ever since. At present he is a little more so. He is now a republican member of the Fort Wayne council from the Fifth Ward. In addition to this trouble he is secretary of the Indiana Board of Pharmacy. These two are the only public offices he holds.
After being graduated from the Fort Wayne High School he never imagined he would have two political plums at the same time, so he started in to study phar- macy even before soda water was an attraction for the modern girl. His studies began by the washing of bottles in the Wagner drug store. After learning a few things behind the prescription case he secured a position with J F. W. Meyer, the pioneer druggist of Fort Wayne. He not only learned how to give his customers a bitter pill to swallow but he mastered other things in pharma- ceutical pursuits. He then went out on the road as a drummer for the Meyer Brothers Company. He played the "snare" drum. The rural druggists liked his music. He put this drum away and purchased the corner drug store in the New Aveline block a little over a quarter of a century ago. He has a happy smile for his customers and in consequence his business has increased with the growth of Fort Wayne. His popularity as a business man has caused him to be showered with political honors. He is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. His ancestors were builders of the republic and Charley is pleased with their work. He has the grip of the Scot- ish Rite Masons and of the Order of Foresters and he also sells medicine for the grip.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.