USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 34
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subsequently serving four years and nine months in that office. April 1, 1906, he was appointed postmaster of Evansville, serving until April 1, 1910, when he became collector of internal revenue for the Seventh District, with his headquarters at Terre Haute. He occupied that office until 1914, and then resumed his law prac- tice, which he had followed intermittently all these years, having read law and been admitted to the bar in his youth. Mr. Covert continued his law practice until 1923, when he was again appointed postmaster of Evansville, his present position. He is discharging his duties in an entirely capable manner, which would be expected from a man of his experience and ability, and is giving the people of Evansville excellent postal service. Fraternally, Mr. Covert is connected with the Masons and the B. P. O. Elks, in addition to which he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. In 1886, Mr. Covert married Miss Grace L. Tucker, of Paris, Illinois, who died October 14, 1918, aged fifty years, the mother of three daughters: Jeanette, a graduate of the Evansville High School, now the wife of Val Nolan, of Evansville, with two children, 'Val and Alan; Charlotte and Martha, both students at the Evansville High School. Mr. Covert and his daughters belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Boaz Crawford. During a period of thirty-five years one of the reliable business enterprises of Evansville has been that known formerly as John G. Neumann & Company, and at present as the John G. Neumann Company. At the head of this enterprise, in the position of secretary-treasurer, is Boaz Crawford, a product of In- diana, whose entire business career has been associated with the company of which he is now one of the proprietors. Mr. Crawford was born in Posey county, Indiana, February 7, 1886, and is a son of F. W. and Hannah (Kitchen) Crawford. His father was born at Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1850, whence he moved in young man- hood to Posey county, Indiana, where he established himself as an agriculturist, a vocation which he has followed all his life. He still survives in hale old age, and is an active member of the Christian church. Mrs. Crawford was born in 1860, in Edwards county, Illinois and immediately after her marriage came to Posey county, where she spent the balance of her life, dying in 1913, aged fifty-three years. She and her husband were the parents of three daughters and four sons, one of the latter of whom, Paul, is associated in business with his brother, Boaz. Boaz Crawford was given his primary educational training in the Posey county schools and the county high school, and at the age of seventeen years came to Evansville and entered Columbia Commercial College. He fin- ished his commercial preparation at Lockyear's Business College, and in September, 1903, entered the employ of John G. Neumann Company, in the capacity of assistant bookkeeper. He was thus employed and as bookkeeper for seven years, and was then trans- ferred to the shipping department, where he remained three years. His next advancement was to the post of assistant manager, and
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after he had occupied this position for four years, he, in asso- ciation with Henry Naas, bought the business, which was incor- porated, in 1916, as the John G. Neumann Company. This business had been founded in 1888, and by the time of its incorporation had reached fairly successful proportions, doing in the neighborhood of $150,000 worth of business each year. Since its incorporation it has advanced steadily, and the returns for the year 1923 were ap- proximately $750,000. Mr. Crawford discharges the duties of sec- retary and treasurer of the company, while Mr. Naas occupies the presidential office, and these two are the sole owners of the busi- ness. Mr. Crawford, a capable business man, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, all the Masonic bodies and has been active in various civic movements. He is a Republi- can in politics, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian denomination, he being a deacon of the Walnut Street Church. January 9, 1911, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage with Minnie, daughter of James W. Spain, a plaster contractor, who married Bertha Tiselow of Petersburg, Ind. Mrs. Crawford was born in Evansville and has always lived here. She and her husband have no children.
Leon Currey. While he did not live to see many of his worthy ambitions come to full fruition, death calling him when he was in middle age, the late Leon Currey accomplished a number of things that were beneficial to Evansville and also established an excellent record as a business man of integrity and marked ability. A resi- dent of the city from 1884 until 1907, he built up a successful drug business, interested himself in other lines and served the city in public office and as to its upbuilding and development. Mr. Currey was born January 30, 1859, at Rome, Indiana. In early childhood he moved to Grandview, Indiana with his parents and there re- ceived his primary educational training. Later he was given the advantages accruing from a course at the Louisiana State College, and not long after his graduation from that institution, in 1884, as a young man of twenty-five years, came to Evansville, where he became associated in business with William Alexander, a druggist of some years standing. Mr. Currey remained with Mr. Alexander for a period of two years, at the end of which time he purchased the property at IIOI West Franklin Street, upon which the present building was erected in 1896. Establishing an up-to-date phar- macy, he continued in its active management until his death, No- vember 22, 1907. Mr. Currey not only built up a large and repre- sentative patronage in this line, but also had various other interests. He was the owner of the property on which the West Side Bank was erected, and was one of the organizers of that institution, in which he was a director. Also, he was interested in West Side In- surance and Real Estate Company, in which he held a directorship, and one of the organizers and a director of the Evansville Pure Milk Company. A stanch democrat in politics, he always took a keen interest in the welfare of his adopted city and its people, and
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at the time of his death was a member of the board of safety. Fra- ternally, he belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen and also held membership in the West Side Business Men's Association. April 30, 1885, Mr. Currey was united in marriage with Miss Alice Wilbern, who sur- vives him as a resident of Evansville and is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. They became the parents of two children: Hiram W .; and Vetris E., the latter the wife of Felix Hinkle, proprietor of Hinkle's Garage, distributor of Packard automobiles. Hiram W. Currey was born in 1887, at Evansville, and received good educational advantages. He received prelimin- ary instructions in the business under his father, this being fol- lowed by a collegiate training, and at the time of his father's death he entered the drug store, which he has continued to manage ever since, this being with the exception of the time spent at the Officers' Training Camp, at Camp Taylor, from April, 1918, to November; 1918, during the World war. He is accounted one of the able and rising business men of his city, and is carrying on the work of his late father, and is also secretary and treasurer of the Hinkle Motor Car Company. Mr. Currey is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, in addition to which he has several civic and social connections.
Adolph F. Decker. Properly to interpret the law in all its com- plexities and unerringly to apply its provisions to establish human rights and defeat injustice demands such a comprehensive knowl- edge, not only of books but of life itself, that he who reaches a high plane in this profession must command more than negative consideration from his fellow man. On a solid educational founda- tion, the individual who aspires to success in the law, must be built upon a thorough knowledge of what law means to the present day man and how it can be applied to circumvent evil, protect the help- less and bring happiness and safety to the deserving. Among the members of the Evansville bar, one who has shown himself a re- liable and thoroughly learned legist is Adolph F. Decker, who main- tains offices in the Old State Bank Building. Mr. Decker was born at Indianapolis, Indiana, January 30, 1880, and was only a child when brought by his parents to Evansville, in the public graded schools of which city he acquired his early educational training. Having decided upon a career in the law, he then entered the office of Philip W. Frey, one of the well-known lawyers of an earlier day, with whom he remained as student and associate for a period approximating twenty years. During the last three years he has been associated in practice with Isidor Kahn. Mr. Decker, in addi- tion to being prominent in his profession, has also been a factor in the public life of his community and elsewhere. He was twice a member of the Indiana State Legislature, in which body he served with ability and in 1904, 1905 and 1906 was identified with the civil government of the Philippine Islands. He belongs to the various organizations of his profession, which he joined shortly after his
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admission to the bar, February 14, 1901, and as a fraternalist is affiliated with the B. P. O. Elks. He likewise has a number of business and civic connections. April 5, 1916, Mr. Decker was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Dorsey, of Louisville, Kentucky.
Henry M. Dickman, secretary-treasurer and manager of the West Side Insurance and Real Estate Company and secretary- treasurer of the West Side Building, Loan & Savings Association, is one of the native sons of Evansville who has not only advanced his own interests by hard work and the acceptance of opportunities, but has also contributed to the city's betterment and progress in a number of directions. He was born June 1, 1884, a son of Henry C. and Maude (Martyn) Dickman, both of whom are living. Henry Dickman, the grandfather of Henry M., was engaged in the tailor- ing business at Evansville, where he still resides at an advanced age. Henry C. Dickman followed in his father's footsteps and for many years was identified with the tailoring business at Evansville. Henry M. Dickman attended the public schools and in 1902 was graduated from the high school. During his vacation periods he worked for the county surveyor and for a short time after his grad- uation continued in that kind of work. In the fall of 1902 he se- cured a position with the old Cumberland Telephone Company, in the engineering and contracting department, with which he re- mained for six years, during the last three years of which he travel- ed on the road. Mr. Dickman then became a commercial traveler. and for twelve years was employed in this capacity by various con- cerns, his last employers being the Standard Oil Company, of Evansville. In 1920, Mr. Dickman joined his present concern, the West Side Insurance and Real Estate Company, at 1015 West Franklin Street, of which he is now secretary-treasurer and man- ager. He has applied initiative and continuous industry in the working out of some of his own progressive ideas, and the result has been a marked expansion in the company's business. Mr. Dickman is a member of the Real Estate Board, and is secretary of the City Planning Commission, which was created in 1921. During the World war he assisted in recruiting a company for the State Militia, of which he was commissioned captain. Politically he is a democrat. He is a Knight Templar and York Rite Mason, a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, and holds membership also in the Kiwanis Club, the West Side Nut Club and the Chamber of Com- merce. With his family he belongs to Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church. June 12, 1907, Mr. Dickman was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Vandergriff, of Evansville, and to this union there have been born three children: Robert Henry, who is fifteen years of age; Virginia Mary, twelve years of age; and Florence Joanne, four years of age.
William G. Downs, Sr., D. D. S. One of the successful and prominent members of the dental profession at Evansville is Dr. William G. Downs, Sr., who has been engaged in practice in this
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city continuously since 1896, has held numerous offices in the local and state societies of his profession and has gained a large and representative following. Doctor Downs was born at Boonville, Warrick county, Indiana, August 1, 1871, and is a son of Capt. Thomas J. and Lydia (Williams) Downs. He has the unusual and unique distinction of being the great-grandson of a veteran, grand- son of a veteran, son of a veteran, brother of a veteran and father of a veteran. He is a direct descendant of two soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary war, a soldier of the War of 1812, and a soldier of the Mexican war. His father, who was born at Liver- more, Kentucky, in 1834, organized an infantry company at Boon- ville, for service in the Union army during the Civil war, and com- manded that company with distinction throughout the struggle. Later he became prominent in business and political circles of Warrick county, where he built and operated one of the first mills of the county and also held numerous important political offices. Doctor Downs' mother, Lydia (Williams) Downs, was born at Boonville, in 1840. Both the father and mother are now deceased. William G. Downs attended the public schools of Boonville and Evansville, and the University of Cincinnati, following which he entered upon his professional studies at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Dentistry in 1893. In the following year he entered the practice of dentistry in association with Dr. E. C. Bailey, of Evansville, and from 1894 until 1896, conducted a private practice at Huntingburg, Indiana. He then returned to Evansville, and as noted, has been in constant practice, with the exception of the time spent in war service. During the World war he served as president of the Dis- trict League for Dental Preparedness. It is estimated that through the efforts of the league in the Evansville district, fully 600 men who otherwise could not have gone, were made eligible for the service. From the beginning of 1918, until the end of the war, Doctor Downs' time was almost wholly given over to this work. his private practice being entirely subjugated to the exigencies of the service. He has been elected to official positions repeatedly in the state and local dental associations and holds membership therein and in the national body. He is a past master of Evansville Lodge, No. 64, F. & A. M., and is deputy grand chancellor for Indiana of the Knights of Pythias, holding membership in St. George Lodge. No. 164. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served four years as state oil inspector, but has preferred to serve his party from the inside rather than to seek office. His religious affiliation is with the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church. January 3, 1894, Doctor Downs was united in marriage with Anna Turner, daugh- ter of John T. and Anna (Smith) Willson, of Louisville, Kentucky, and to this union has come one son, William Gershom Downs, Jr., aged twenty-seven years, a veteran of the World war, who is mar- ried and has two children, Helen Fisher Downs, and William Gershom III.
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William Gershom Downs, Jr., D. D. S. For many years the name of Downs has been a familiar and honored one in professional circles of Evansville, due to the prominence of Dr. William Ger- shom Downs, Sr., as a dental practitioner, and this reputation has been maintained more recently by the son of this highly respected citizen, Dr. William Gershom Downs, Jr., who is following in the footsteps of his father and has established an enviable reputation. He was born at Evansville, May 20, 1896, and is a son of Dr. William G. and Anna (Willson) Downs, a sketch of whose lives will be found elsewhere in this work. His mother, a Kentuckian by birth, was a descendant by way of Virginia of pure Revolutionary stock on both sides of the family. Her ancestors were among the early settlers of Virginia and the Carolinas, and Dr. Downs' fath- er's ancestors were of Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. Doctor Downs is of English and Irish extraction and a great-great-grand- son of four Revolutionary veterans, being a direct descendant of William Williams, on one side, and of Major Coward, one of Wash- ington's aides, on the other. He is a nephew of a Spanish-Ameri- can war veteran ; a grandson of Capt. Thomas J. Downs who com- manded a company of infantry from Boonville during the Civil war, and a great-grandson of a veteran of the Mexican war and the War of 1812. William G. Downs, Jr., completed his grammar school education at Evansville in 1910 and in 1914 finished his high school course. He then spent two years at George Peabody College, Nash- ville, Tennessee, where he took a general science course. At that time he became operating engineer for the Eddystone Ammunition Plant, at Philadelphia, and was later chief construction engineer for the Atlantic Refining Company, of the same city, but when the United States entered the World war he resigned and in April, 1917, entered the First Coast Artillery Training Camp. He re- signed in July of the same year and immediately thereafter entered the Royal Flying Corps, completing his training as an army flyer at Toronto. He was permitted to leave the British service in order to enter that of the American forces, and in September, 1917, en- listed at Philadelphia, becoming a member of the IIoth United States Infantry, 103rd Trench Mortar Battery (First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry), and after the signing of the Armistice, was located with a permanent camp detachment, Forwarding Camp, LeMans, France. While there he constructed a complete water system for an 80,000-man camp. In all he was overseas sixteen months, served in five branches of the service, held every enlisted rank from private of infantry to master engineer, qualified as an artillery observer (flyer), was twice wounded, gassed and cited. After the war, in January, 1921, when the National Guard was being reorganized, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of field artillery and helped in the organization of the Guard in southern Indiana. He was successively commissioned first lieuten- ant and captain in the National Guard, and in the Field Artillery Reserve Corps, and at present is in command of Battery F, 139th
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Field Artillery, the Evansville battery, and the senior unit in southern Indiana. When his military service was completed, he returned to the United States, and in order to become associated with his father, entered Vanderbilt University, from which he was graduated, in 1922, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, Since then he has followed his profession with the elder man, and is now in the enjoyment of a large practice. Doctor Downs is a stand-pat Republican and has served in various capacities with the local organization. As a fraternalist, he holds membership in the Phi Kappa Sigma and Psi Omega fraternities, the Knights of Pythias and the D. O. K. K. He likewise belongs to the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Guard Asso- ciation, the Field Artillery Association, the National, Indiana and Evansville dental societies, the Evansville County Club, the Noel- ton Golf Club of Nashville, and the Phi Kap Club of Chicago. His religious connection is with the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church. July 10, 1920, at St. Louis, Doctor Downs was united in marriage with Elizabeth Driver Harrison, daughter of Charles A. Harrison, of Nashville. She is a grandniece of Capt. William Driver, a rebellious Yankee sea captain, who, nevertheless, due to advanced age, kept his residence at Nashville during the Civil war, and who during the Federal occupancy was provost marshal of Nashville. He kept his own brother, Mrs. Downs' grandfather, locked up throughout the remainder of the war because he refused to renounce the Southern cause and take the oath of allegiance to the United States. It was he who named his ship flag "Old Glory," which has since become the accepted reverent nickname of the American flag. Captain Driver's flag is now in the possession of Mrs. Downs and will, eventually, become her property. Doctor and Mrs. Downs are the parents of two children : Helen Fisher and William Gershom III.
Frank B. Droit. The statement that industry and progressive ideas, when backed by good management and inherent business ability, are bound to develop success in any reliable and legitimate enterprise, is borne out in the history of the Koch Outfitting Com- pany, home outfitters, of Evansville. This business is now under the management of Frank B. Droit, who came to this country in young manhood, without friends or resources, and has worked his own way to success and standing. Mr. Droit was born November 3, 1870, in Germany, a son of Frederick Droit, who passed his entire life in that country. After acquiring a public school eduration, Frank B. Droit, at the age of nineteen years, emigrated to the United States in search of his fortune. He arrived in Evansville in 1889, and, being strong and willing, had no difficulty in finding employment, his first connection being that of a laborer at the Uhl Pottery, where he remained one and one-half years. He then be- came clerk in the grocery store of Rosenburger & Klein, with which concern he remained two years, after which he joined the Crescent Furniture Company as a machine hand. After two years he was
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advanced to foreman of the mill department, and then assistant superintendent of the entire factory. During all this time Mr. Droit had saved his wages carefully, and in July, 1909, when the opportunity presented itself, he was ready to take advantage of it. This opportunity came in the form of a chance to buy out the old Koch Stove and Hardware Company, which had been established by Henry Koch some forty-five years before. A corporation was formed, known as the Koch Outfitting Company, of which Mr. Droit was made secretary and this business was purchased. Im- mediately after its purchase, Mr. Droit set about changing the hard- ware business into a furniture and house furnishing business. That his efforts have been successful is to be seen in the fact that he now does a business of approximately $200,000 annually, his trade ex- tending to every part of the city. Fair dealing, high-class merchan- dise and an earnest endeavor to assist the patrons to furnish their homes throughout, harmoniously, at a price they can afford to pay, are some of the reasons for Mr. Droit's success, others, of course, being hard and persistent work and inherent business ability which has aided him in the overcoming of obstacles. In 1896, Mr. Droit was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Haag, of Evansville, and to this union there have been born three children : Ione, who is now Mrs. T. Varney Cadick, of Evansville; Clarence, superintendent of the furniture department of Fowler, Dick & Walker, who joined the United States Marines during the World war and after training at Paris Island was sent to Santo Domingo for twenty-one months, being honorably discharged with the rank of corporal and company clerk, in July, 1919; and Margaret, who is unmarried and resides with her parents. Mr. Droit is a member of the Evansville Cham- ber of Commerce and as a fraternalist, holds membership in the Masons and the Order of Owls. In national politics he supports the principles of the Democratic party, but in local matters is inclined to maintain an independent attitude.
Hon. Edgar Durre. The bench and bar of Vanderburgh county have a worthy representative in the person of Hon. Edgar Durre, judge of the Superior court, who has had a successful career in the law and has been the incumbent of numerous important offices. Judge Durre was born at Evansville, November 16, 1875, a son of Otto and Henrietta Durre. His father was born in France in 1842, and was about twenty years of age when he emigrated to the United States. Locating at Evansville, he became a bookkeeper in the employ of the Heiman Wholesale Grocery Company, but later transferred his services to Koeppler Brothers, wholesale liquor dealers. During the time he was employed by this concern he served two years as deputy treasurer and two years as deputy recorder of Evansville. In 1876, when Koppler Brothers failed, he entered the firm of Schmidt & Firnhaber, a partnership concern, carrying on a wholesale liquor business, and remained therewith until his death in 1914. Mr. Durre's wife, Henrietta, who was born
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