USA > Indiana > Wells County > Ossian > 20th century souvenir edition of the Ossian news, Ossian, Ind., January 1st, 1900 > Part 5
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His father dying when young. left the
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THE OSSIAN NEW'S
Capt. J. L. Leslie.
In 1886, he came to Ossian, and setting up a scenic studio, painted and built the beautiful stage effects for Hatfield's Hall. Since then, he has made Ossian his main headquarters, though for some time he resided in Bluffton. As a painter and pa- per hanger, and as a scenic artist, he is well and favorably known throughout the country.
Dr. Miles MR. newman.
Dr. Miles N. Newman, one of Ossian's accomplished physicians, and the present city health officer, was born in Birming- ham, Iowa, in the year 1843, of German- English parents. He received his early education in Iowa at the common schools, and spent the first sixteen years of his life upon his father's farm. A desire for broader education was the incentive which caused him to matriculate at the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant. After attending college a year, patriotism
boy to shift for himself. When six years of age, his mother moved to Pittsburg, and here as a boy. Mr. Leslie had an op- prompted the student to lay aside books portunity to see many fine plays. Here it and pen, and take up the saber and knap- was that the love of the stage began to sack. In August of 1861, he enlisted take hold upon his imagination. After in Co. H, 3rd Iowa Cav., and for four long receiving his education at Washington, years, followed the fortunes of the "stars Pa., he went to Kittanning to learn a and stripes." On many a well-fought trade. Here he developed his skill for field he proved his latent qualities of reso- painting, and here too he found that he lution and valor, participating in all the could play sub-parts creditably. The love battles in which his regiment was en- for histrionic things decided him to be- gaged. come an actor. Accordingly he bent ev-
After his discharge at the close of the £ ery energy to the task, and before the war, Mr. Newman began the study of war, played with MacFarland, McBride medicine, graduating from the College of and other great artists. For eight years, Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa, he was more than a tolerable scenic ar- in 1871.
tist, as well as an acceptable actor before
Since that time Dr. Newman has been large audiences. By his painting of scen- a successful practioner of medicine. His ery for large companies, and the acting years of professional services in Iowa. with famous comedians, he acquired no Kansas and Indiana have been prosperous mean reputation.
ones. In 1877, he settled in Ossian, and
At the outbreak of the war, he gave up since that date. he has been actively en- everything for the sake of serving his gaged in his chosen life-work.
country, and at Tittusville, Pa., organized In 1885, Dr. Newman was elected trustee of Jefferson Township. and it is only fair to state that it was during his term of his company for the front-Co. D, 19th Pa. Cav. In service, he was a bold leader, was a prisoner 19 months, and lay incar- office that more school buildings were cerated in eleven rebel prisons. At the erected and educational affairs more large- end of the war, he was mustered out, left ly promoted than at any other time in the the stage and adopted painting for his history of Ossian, remembering with due concluding life work.
regard our later advancements.
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Dr. Newman is one of our most respect- of his careful and painstaking study of and treatment of disease.
ed citizens.
Dr. Andrew G. Borrell.
In 1895, the doctor began work in his present territory, his efforts soon gain- ed him a wide patrionage. He is an active
Dr. Andrew G Gorrell, one of our lead- church worker, a patriotic, conservative ing physicians, noted for his careful and citizen, a type of our representative men conservative treatment of disease, was of Ossian. born in Warren, Ohio, of parents who were among the first to brave the dangers of the untried Western wilderness, as Ind- 3. E. Allen. iana was called half a century ago. The
doctor came of good old Scotch-Irish stock
J. E. Allen, the only man who has ever -a race whose firy ardor not even the made the "Star Restaurant" a success, chilly blasts of adversity could dampen- a people of strong religious inclinations: integrity inherited for many generations.
came to his present ownership through changes, trials, troubles vicissitudes enough to have disheartened the living soul of almost any man. No man has ever
The young doctor-to-be spent his early boyhood days in the clearing with the ax, more worthily won the respect of a large and on the stumpy field behind the' plow. patronage than he. He received his early education at Ossian,
Mr. Allen was born May 12, 1861 near and fought his way upward against the Ossian, the son of S. B. and Hanna Allen. many exigencies and difficulties that con- He is descended from the strain that pro- fronted him. When the war broke out in duced that grand old hero of the revolu- 1861, he was one of the first to offer him- tion-Ethan Allen. Educated in the com- self to his country, and from September, mon school, he early left his studies to be-
1861 to February, 1866, he followed the flag with the passion. vehemence and patriotism that characterized his early fathers. On a hundred hard-fought battle fields he received that exper- ience which influenced his life.
After his discharge, at the close of the war. the subject of the sketch began the study of med- icine with his brother. Dr. J. R. Gorrell of Newton, Iowa, -finish- ing at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He holds a diploma from the medi- cal department of that Residence of Mrs. Sarah Cartwright. noted institution as well as one from the come a bread winner. The very severe medical department of the state university labor on the factory and in the ditch, of Iowa. brought on rheumatism, therefore turning Dr. Gorrell practiced successfully many his attention to the restaurant business in years in the west as well as in Indiana. 1893, he purchased the "Star". After His health, however, obliged him for a trying that until 1895, he thought to bet- time to quit active practice in Iowa, where ter himself by a change into the hardware he was becoming widely known because store. This move being unsatisfactory, Mr.
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THE OSSIAN NEW'S
Allen. in July, 1895, moved to Warren and went into the livery business. Selling there, he returned to the restaurant idea and in October 1896 went to Markle. Here he would have continued had not the ill health of his wife necessitated her being removed to a more suitable climate. With great sadness in his heart. fearing the inevitable result. he moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico. April 1897. Torn by alternat- ing hopes and despair, he lived for two years in the climate to which his wife had been recommended by the best physicians. During this time he was employed in the shops of the A. T. & S. F. railroad. All efforts to better Mrs. Allen's condition having failed, with great sadness the little family returned to Ossian, and Mr. Allen again purchased the "Star Restaurant' which had passed through several hands since he left.
Whatever can belong to an up-to-date equipment we find in the Allen restaurant. Having taken great pains to make his stock attractive to all customers he is winning a large patronage. As a man, Mr. Allen is a good, patriotic, enterprising citizen and a valued addition to the busi- ness fraternity here.
Clark Quackenbush.
Clark Quackenbush, Ossian's enterpris- ing baker, was born in 1863 in Union Town- ship. Wells Co. Indiana. the only son of Thomas W. and Phoebe Quackenbush. both of whom have passed into the land of promise.
Mr. Quackenbush's ancestry was Ger- man, and moral and intellegent "stand-bys" in the early history of pioneer efforts. The subject of this sketch received his schooling at this place and at Milford: ill health obliging him to leave much un- finished that would otherwise have been Taken all in all Mr. Clark Quackenbush an ambition and pleasure to acquire. is one of our most reliable. well-to-do busi- While at Milford, Indiana, whence his ness men. father removed in 1880, the young man had the opportunity to learn the trade which he has successfully followed all his John Woodward. life. It was at Milford in his father's Mr. John Woodward. the enterprising grocery and bake-shop that he acquired butcher, by careful management has built the taste which determined him in his up his business until it ranks favorably choice of a life-labor.
J. E. Allen.
In the year 1880, the present business was established under the name Quacken- bush & Son, and for several years the senior member of the firm struggled on in a small shop further up in the city. In 1882 the present bakery was erected. the oven built, and preparations made for supplying the growing trade with fine breads, cakes. groceries and confectioneries. From this time on the growth of the business was gradual and sure. and for a number of years the Quackenbush bakery and res- taurant was the only one in Ossian, gaining trade because of its merit and reliability.
In 1899, the death of the senior member of the firm. left the business in control of the subject of this sketch, and affairs are moving along in a prosperous way under his careful management. A dwelling house was erected. in close proximity to the shop. by Mr. Quackenbush. last year. and the property in other ways improved.
with similar establishments. He is the
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son of Abram Wood- ward, well known to all the pioneer citizens, and to all who have spent much time on the "stock exchange". For many years a conservative buyer of live stock, it was to be expected that the father's name would be connected with the consumption of meats in Ossian.
The subject of this sketch was born in Jef- ferson township in the year 1863. Then it was that he received his schooling and early im- petus in business. . The early part of his life he
Residence of W. H. Rupright.
spent upon his father's farm: till show- er and manufacturer in the person of ing an aptitude for milling, he began Harry Nill. Mr. Nill was born in Fort to work on the grist mill. An unfortun- Wayne in the year 1843, of German parents, and was educated in that city, where he spent his early youth and manhood. It was there that he learned the trade which enabled him to work his way up to a suc- in 1892, he established the present meat cessful shoe merchant and salesman. ate accident which injured an arm, deter- mined Mr. Woodward to leave the flour- ing profession and enter one less danger- ous and one more lucrative. Accordingly shop and began to study the desire of his In 1862 Mr. Nill responded to the call customers. There had been many make- for patriots, and marched away to the shifts of shops before Mr. Woodward's south to protect the flag. For three years time, but after passing into his control the he saw active service and participated in business righted itself, machinery was ad- the many engagements in which his regi- ded, capacity was increased. Now a wagon ment was a sharer. For sixteen months is on the road in the interests of the firm he was an inmate of a loathsome rebel in the summer, care is taken to make the prison, and during that time, felt all the customers on the several routes satisfied bitter privations of war. Upon return with the manner of dealings. Altogether home Mr. Nill continued to work at his Mr. Woodward is steadily seeking to in- trade, removing from Fort Wayne to Wil- crease the facilities of the shop and furnish liamsport after a time.
a class of goods acceptable to the public
From Williamsport, Mr. Nill removed taste. As the Woodward meat-shop sup- to Ossian and in 1889, established business plies the entire town it is to be taken for granted that the gentleman who manages here on a much smaller scale than is now supposable, judging from his fine brick the affairs is a busy man, as it is no small business room at present occupied. The job to furnish the town trade and at the same time afford country buyers with an opportunity to get good fresh meats.
barry Mill.
patronage of Mr. Nill increased rapidly from the first, and he soon grew to be one of our most successful and prosperous bus- iness men. In 1893, trade had increased to such an extent that a large building be- came necessary; and accordingly the brick building was erected, and now remains
Our commonwealth is fortunate enough one of the signs of our little city's advance- to possess an exclusive boot and shoe deal- ment. Not being content with enlarging
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THE OSSIAN NEW'S
Harry Nill.
his stock, the proprietor added other cost- ly impromements in the line of sewing and manufacturing machines. In seeking to supply the people with the best goods procurable, Mr. Nill has given and is giv- ing satisfaction to great numbers of cus- tomers-which numbers are constantly growing. It is somewhat of an honor to possess the sort of an establishment of which Mr. Nill is owner.
Miss Cora thood.
Ossian, where there was work for the father. After the death of Mr. Hood. Miss Cora decided to remain close to her mother's side, and since that time, has labored at her present avocation-dress- making. Establishing this business in 1888. she had her sewing rooms in her residence on Mill street. Recently she moved to a room in the "Ossian House" where she now meets all her well pleased patrons.
It is not as a business woman only that Miss Hood is to be remembered. Her
social life and work deserve a more than passing notice. A member of the M. E. church, she has been one of its leading workers for a number of years. In 1892. she was made superintendent of the Junior Epworth League, which office she still holds to the entire satisfaction of that or. ganization. That the efficiency of her services were recognized by others, it is reasonable to suppose, since she was elect . ed 2nd vice president of Fort Wayne Dist- rict Epworth League in June, 1897. June 21, 1899, she was again honored by office -- this time that of District president. Not alone in church work does Miss Hood con- spicuously figure. Her services for the Garland Templo, Rathbone Sisters, have been most eminent ones. In October. 1898. she was appointed as one of the committee on Appeals and Grievances in Grand Tem- ple of Rathbone Sisters, by Grand Chief. Eva B. Rohbock.
In the order she is now M. of R. & C
In September, 1898, she was elected vice president of the W. C. T. U., and at
In the person of Miss Cora Hood, Ossian present she is corresponding secretary of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society. Comment upon the life of this charming
recognizes a most estimable and popular woman, who has had during her life in the city. as much to do with many of the woman worker for humanity's sake is un- social reforms. as any other local Christ- necessary. worker we could mention. An active, en- ergetic, agrecable and efficient student of social needs, Miss Hood has achieved her M. E. bursb. popularity by earning every bit of it-cov- ering the ground, inch by inch, she has
When it comes to the production of good exceedingly boastful. If we excel in any-
endeared her life to those for whom she flour it is Ossian's turn to grow loud and has unhesitatingly given herself.
Miss Hcod was born in Harlan, Ind., thing, it is in the quality of the flour out- and is the daughter of Samuel and Louisa put. And it is an undisputable fact that Hood. persons of good family. who are the man who has made the best flour ever kindly remembered by all theolder readers produced in Ossian. is Milton E. Hursh. of this edition. Many years ago, the par- the subject of this biographical sketch. ents and the then young family. moved to
Mr. Hursh was born in Urbana, Ind. A
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to the business in this city. The town has every reason to feel elated that this is true.
Dr. 3. 1R. Borrell.
It has been given to Ossian to produce occasionally men of whom not alone the sources whence they sprang are proud, but as well the surrounding country that witnessed their genesis, development and glowing successes. To this class of men belongs Dr. J. R. Gorrell now an influen- tial light of medicine and statescraft in the state of Iowa. His life-history, it seems to us, is worth vastly more than the mere cursory mention which shall: fol- low, since he, a former "Ossian boy", has risen "in the very teeth of the storm" to rare attainments in his profession and to positions of unquestioned honor and trust in civics. Indeed Dr. Gorrell has advanc- Flouring Mill. ed eminently beyond those places accorded men of tolerable promise: and that we are son of a successful miller, he learned in privileged to mention him and sketch in his father's employ. all the secrets something of his life in this lasting Souve- which concern the milling business. It nir of the Ossian NEWS. ist an imperal was in Urbana that his early education honor.
was received, and where all his embryo
Dr. J. R. Gorrell, fifth son of Joseph and energies were called forth and developed. Esther (Glass) Gorrell, was born in Trum- It is an old saying that "good millers are bull Co., Ohio, May 6th. 1835. Of his an- rare as wheat grains on oat stalks": but cestry it may be briefly stated that the in spite of the seeming paradox, analo- Gorrells emigrated from the island of gously speaking. every body concedes M. E. Hursh to be that same thing-a boss up-to-date miller, as genial, affable a gen- tleman as ever ground flour in a town hitherto unentered by a practical mill- wright.
Mr. Hursh's present business was estab- lished in 1892. He was first here in a partnership with John Rex, but finally de- ciding that he would prefer to continue the work on his own plans, he bought the mill. and has since that time had a success that is really remarkable. Strict attent- ion to his business, knowledge of all the essentials, habits of economy and industry cultivated from childhood, have made Mr. Hursh the man he is. The farm- ers have long ago realized that when they desire good results they must bring their grists to Ossian and leave them with M. E. Hursh. It counts for considerable that the only practical, successful miller in the county is giving his time and attention
Dr. J. R. Gorrell.
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THE OSSIAN NEWS
Corsica in 1721. From this fact, it will be seen that the descent is French- few will forget that Corsica gave the world Napoleon: and all will remember that Cor- xican blood is blue with the royal, fiery fever of some heroic dynasty of France. In the search for a new home a portion of the strain made Ire- land a stopping place, and others went on to Scotland. But concern- ing the original source there can be little doubt. On the other hand the Glasses were purely Residence of M. E. Hursh. Scotch, and the Tam ( Shanter hotel, rendered famous by the mathematician, Dr. Joel E. Hendricks (a poet Burns, has been owned by them for cousin of Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana). And this more than two hundred years.
£ In 1892, Dr. Gorrell, was sent as a dele-
Scottish family proudly traces its ancestral gate from the 6th congressional district relationship to Sir William Wallace-it is to the National Republican Convention at definitely known that one of the race, Minneapolis; and at that time was a parti- Andrew by name, shared the perils of his san of Blaine. He was elected senator in kinsman, the famous Scottish Chief.
the 29th senatoral district in the fall of 1893 by the republicans. Not favoring the
The subject of this sketch, with years of blue blood behind him, according to the St. Louis platform he became a supporter Laws of heredity; must have done some- of Bryan in 1896, and was re elected to the thing in a life thus ballasted. as it were, Senate in 1897 by the combined free silver by the achievements of a mighty past. element in his district, overcoming the republican majority of 446 in 1896. Briefly, he moved with his parents to Wells Co., Ind., in the fall of 1845. Re- ceived his education in Fort Wayne, and in the spring of 1856, began the study of medicine with Dr. J. R. McCleary in Bluff- ton. In the spring of 1859, he graduated
Besides political and professional strong- points, Dr. Gorrell is a keen, forcible, ar- gumentative writer of no small ability. As the author of "Sins Absolved", a rom- ance, he has given the reading world from the University of Buffalo, and on the something to think about.
9th day of August, 1859, began the practice It is a pleasure for us at this point of medicine in Newville, DeKalb county, to pay tribute to the literary excellence Indiana. Until the fall of 1862, heremain- of Dr. Gorrell's writings. Under other ed in active practice, at which time, re- circumstances, and in other environments, sponding to duty's call, he entered the army as an assistant surgeon, and served in that capacity and as surgeon until the close of the war. In the fall of 1865, he located in Newton. Iowa, where he has remained, and where the honors and life- trophies have been showered upon him.
this man of medicine, this master of states- craft, would have become a litterateur of great distinction: even as he now stands, rich, powerful, learned, philan- thropic, it is beyond our humble station to properly enumerate and dignify the ex- cellencies of his well-earned glory, or re-
In the fall of 1861, Dr. Gorrell was unit- ed in marriage to Francis E. Hendricks, count further his perfect right to that eldest daughter of the world-famous illustriousness which is his own.
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Jas. I. fReefer.
Jas. H. Keefer. editor and proprietor of the OSSIAN WEEKLY NEWS, is a type of progressive manhood. He has succeeded in a business which from its earliest be- yinning appeared hopeless to those who knew of the efforts of early newspaper men in Ossian. He has literallyfo red recog- nition from every side. and from the very jaws of failure drawn out the philosopher's stone-success.
Mr. Keefer was born in Maysville. Allen Co., Ind., Feb. 11. 1869, of parents in whose blood predominated the Penn- sylvania German strain. Essentially he is
youth his environments were not especial- ly conducive to aught but manual toil. The rndiments of an English education were secured at the Maysville common schools. Upon this foundation was built knowledge born of self-study, reading, travel and experience.
length in our article "The Ossian News".
If great mechanical ability, trained mind, exceptional inventive skill. energy and determination count for anything. Mr. Keefer is certainly a wonderful man with a great future before him.
David Craig.
One of our most respected pioneer citi- zens is David Craig. mention of whom is made in the leading chapter of this vol- ume.
Mr. Craig was born in London, Canada. a self educated man, for in the days of his in the year 1834. He came of good Scotch stock-that nationality that has proven itself on a thousand battle fields. Coming of such a race. it is not to be wondered at that Mr. Craig possesses the qualities which go to make up good citizenship.
In 1846, his father. William Craig, re- moved to Jefferson Township and began His inventive turn in youth, amounting to genius. his indomitable energy and the arduous task of making a living in a semi-wild country. Here young David will, made him successful in whatever he had ample opportunity to work up his tried. A year of business spent in a print- muscle on the stumpy underbrush. The ing office taught him the ethics of his "old deestrict" school experience was business, though he did not at once em- undergone by David. Later he attended bark as a newspaper man-indeed he had reckoned upon another trade entirely. Au the age of 20, he entered in- to the wholesale meat business, buying and butchering at Maysville and selling in Fort Wayne. At this time Mr. Keefer had the re- putation of owning the finest 'outfit" in the wholesaling business. He was a practical butcher, par excellence. in everything of that nature he tried.
Swift & Co. entered the market in 1885, ex- tensively. thus killing the small wholesalers.
Residence of F. M. Thurber.
With his usual an educational institution at Fort Wayne. foresight and energy. Mr. Keefer at once practically, however, Mr. Craig is a self- turned his genius into newspaper lines. made man who has toiled hard for all he How well he succeeded is told at some has acquired.
THE OSSIAN NEWS
David Craig.
The early influences and environments of Mr. Craig's life determined him to be- come a farmer. The firmness with which he met the adversities of life, and the pluck which enabled him to succeed, are elements of character worthy of emulation.
For some years Mr. Craig has lived a retired life, though to the boys he is simp- ly "Pappy", who is as young in heart as he was half a century ago-the true type of the man who never grows old.
Socially, he is an active member of the B. & W. Club-a hale fellow well met.
In the death of his wife and daughter a few years ago he met chastening influences that conspired to make his life a truly noble and beautiful one.
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