USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 47
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
William L. Mitchell. It was only after mature and deep con- sideration of the subject that William L. Mitchell chose Evans- ville as the field of his professional labors in 1919, since which time he has risen steadily in his calling and in general public esteem. He was born at Mount Pleasant, Perry county, Indiana, February 16, 1889, and is a son of Leonard 'L. and Phoebe (Mosby) Mitchell, both natives of the same county. Leonard L. Mitchell, who has been a lifelong agriculturist, has been successful in a material way as a farmer and stockman, and has also gained a prominent place in public esteem. He has been at various times the incumbent of public office, his duties ranging all the way from township trustee to county treasurer, and in every case he has discharged his re- sponsibilities fully and faithfully, to the gratification of his fellow- citizens. Both he and Mrs. Mitchell still survive, being highly honored residents of Derby, Indiana. The youngest in a family of five children, William L. Mitchell acquired his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of his native locality, following which
404
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
he pursued a course at a boarding school, which prepared him for his college work. He then enrolled as a student at the St. Louis University, from the law department of which institution he was graduated with his degree in June, 1918. Less than two weeks later he enlisted in the Eleventh Company, Coast Artillery, under Colonel Hughes, and was sent to Fort Barrancas, Florida, where he remained in training five months. He was then graduated to enter the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Monroe, but the signing of the armistice closed the war before he completed the course, and in December, 1918, he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant. Mr. Mitchell then started on an extended tour of the country, seeking a likely location for a young and ambitious law- yer to ply his profession, and finally chose the city of Evansville. He has had no reason to regret his choice, for here he has built up a large and representative clientele, his practice carrying him into all the courts, where his consistent success has gained him stand- ing and reputation. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the Vanderburgh County Bar Association and as a fraternalist holds membership in the Knights of Columbus. March 2, 1918, Mr. Mitchell married Jewell Miller, of Mauckport, Harrison county, Indiana, a daughter of Philip U. Miller, and to this union there have been born two children : Leonard Upton and Betty Jane.
Lewis Morris. The career of Lewis Morris, one of the well- known citizens of Evansville, has included in its scope the manage- ment of important business matters and the holding of high official office, in both of which directions he has shown himself enterprising, industrious and capable. At present he is manager of the Home Supply Company, and is also serving as wharfmaster at Evansville and was formerly deputy state oil inspector, having served under both Governors Marshall and Ralston. Mr. Morris was born in Henderson county, Kentucky, October 25, 1878, and is a son of William H. and Lee (Davis) Morris. His father spent the greater part of his life as a coal miner at Central City, Kentucky, but also for a time was the proprietor of a retail liquor business, and died in February, 1906. Mrs. Morris also is deceased, having passed away in 1902. Lewis Morris attended the public schools of his native vicinity and then enrolled as a student in the old College school, at Evansville, of which the principal at that time was Mol- lie Stembridge, who has since died. When he had completed his education he secured employment as solicitor for a brewing com- pany and followed this work for several years, then attaching him- self to the automobile industry. After three years of experience in the latter line he gave it up to accept the management of the Home Supply Company, which position he has since held. The plant of this concern, which deals as a wholesale house only, is located at No. 127 South Fifth Street, and sends its product all over the United States in wholesale quantities. As to the local trade, that is supplied in a retail way. Mr. Morris has been successful in de- veloping a large and remunerative business, through his general
405
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
ability, industry and acquaintance with the trade. He bears an ex- cellent reputation in business circles, where he has the full confi- dence of his associates. While Mr. Morris's commercial interests are large and important, he has found the time to serve in official positions and is now wharfmaster at Evansville, in addition to which he has been deputy state oil inspector for five years, Fra- ternally, he is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and politically he is a Kentucky democrat of the old school. During the World war he took an active civilian's part in the sale of bonds and war stamps. In 1901 Mr. Morris was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Naney, the daughter of Jacob and Lucy Naney, of Spen- cer county, Indiana.
Thomas J. Morton. The banking interests of a community are necessarily among the most important, for financial stability must be the foundation stone upon which all successful enterprises are erected. The men who control and conserve the money of corpora- tion or country must possess a number of qualities not requisite in the ordinary individual, and among these high commercial integ- rity, exceptional financial ability, poise, judgment and foresight may be mentioned. Likewise public confidence must be with them. A citizen who has been prominently connected with the banking interests of Evansville since 1914, as cashier of the Lamasco Bank, Mr. Morton was born in Ohio county, Kentucky, April 26, 1868, and is a son of John P. and Ella (Austin) Morton, natives of the Blue Grass State. His father, originally a farmer, was elected county judge, and after serving in that office took up the practice of law, which he followed until his death about 1900. Mrs. Morton survives him as a resident of Evansville. The eldest in a family of seven children, Thomas J. Morton attended the pub- lic schools of Ohio county, Kentucky, being graduated from the high school in 1883. Following this he taught school in the same county and also was in business for a short time until 1893, when he enrolled as a student at DePauw University, and after pursuing a scientific course was graduated with the class of 1897. Return- ing to Kentucky, he was variously engaged until 1903, when he engaged in the banking business at Island, Kentucky, remaining at the Island Deposit Bank until 1913, when he resigned his position . as cashier and came to Evansville, becoming one of a group of men to found the Lamasco Bank, of which he has since been cashier. This bank opened its doors to the public May 23, 1914, and on its first day received $11,000 in deposits. The institution has been a highly successful one, and now has deposits of more than $1,300,- 000, and is numbered among the strongest institutions of this part of the state. Mr. Morton has contributed materially to the suc- cess of the bank and has an excellent reputation in banking circles. He has also been a director of the Remedial System of Loaning since its organization. Mr. Morton belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Knights of Pythias, and is a York Rite Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. His religious connection is
406
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
with the Methodist church. He is entitled to membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, as his father fought as a soldier during the War between the States. In politics he gives his alle- giance to the Democratic party. July 12, 1900, Mr. Morton was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Townsend of Anna, Illinois, and they are the parents of two children: Thomas J., Jr. and Mar- garet Helen.
William J. Muensterman. It is not frequently found that the educator is possessed of the qualities which make for marked suc- cess in business and finance. The individual possessed of the purely intellectual nature is seldom one who can cope with the stern and practical issues of banking and commerce. An exception to this rule, however, is found in William J. Muensterman, of Evansville, secretary and treasurer of the West Side Investment Company, who after spending eighteen years in teaching in Van- derburgh county, transferred his activities to business and finan- cial matters, in which he has achieved a notable success. Mr. Muensterman was born on a farm eight miles northwest of Evans- ville, in Vanderburgh county, October 14, 1872, a son of Henry and Lena (Rexing) Muensterman. Henry Muensterman was born in Germany, October 16, 1842, and was brought to the United States when three years of age, later becoming a naturalized citizen. His family settled in Vanderburgh county, and during the Civil war he joined the Thirty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years, being once wounded in battle. For many years and up to the time of his death, April 29, 1922, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. After the war he returned to Vanderburgh county and engaged in farming, prac- tically all of his life being spent in German township. Mrs. Muen- sterman, who was born February 15, 1847, came from her native Holland to America when very young, and still survives her hus- band, residing at 1506 Illinois Street, Evansville. She and Mr. Muensterman were the parents of the following children: William J., Anthony, Frank, Frederick, Julius H., Benjamin J., Henry V. and Mrs. Rosa Folz, of Vanderburgh county. William J. Muen- sterman was educated in the public schools and at the age of eighteen years commenced his career as an educator. He fol- lowed the same line of endeavor for eighteen years, of which fifteen years were spent in German township and three years in Arm- strong township. In 1908 he gave up educational work and came to Evansville, where he embarked in the real estate business, starting alone and later becoming identified with Eli G. Huber. He then assisted in the organization of the West Side Investment Com- pany, of which he is secretary and treasurer. This has been built up to be one of the important concerns of its kind. Mr. Muenster- man is also a director of the West Side Bank and of the C. Grau- lich Furniture Company, president of the Interstate Finance Cor- poration and treasurer of the Franklin Corporation. A Republican in politics, in 1919 he was elected representative of the district in-
407
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
cluding Vanderburgh county. He belongs to the Knights of Co- lumbus, the Chamber of Commerce and the West Side Nut Club. August 20, 1895, Mr. Muensterman was united in marriage with Miss Philomena Goebel, of German township, and to this union there have been born ten children: Mary, now the wife of Joseph W. Schneider; Alvina, Joseph F., Catherine, Amelia, Christina, William J., Jr., Raymond, Philomena and Edmond.
Frank Muntzer, manager of the Evansville Union Stock Yards Company, has been engaged in this line of business practically throughout his entire career, having had his early training in this field in the National Stock Yards at East St. Louis. During his incumbency as manager he has succeeded in enlarging and devel- oping the business at Evansville, where he has inaugurated pro- gressive policies and systematic methods. Mr. Muntzer was born March 13, 1874, in Warrick county, Indiana, and is a son of George and Louise (Vogel) Muntzer, the former of whom was born in New York, while the latter was a native of Germany who was brought to the United States as a child. As a young man George Muntzer came to Indiana and established a sawmilling business at Stevens Station, Warrick county, where he became one of the wealthy men of the community. He was prospering greatly when he had the misfortune to accept the contract of furnishing all the ties for the Air 'Line Railroad. When the railroad went into the hands of a receiver, a large part of Mr. Muntzer's fortune was swept away, and in 1875 he moved to Evansville and became a car- penter contractor, a business which he followed during the re- mainder of his life. He was a Democrat in politics and belonged to St. John's Evangelical Church. During the Civil war he served as a member of the Home Guards. His death occurred in 1903, his wife having passed away three years before. They were the parents of six children: Edward, a carpenter contractor, residing at No. 243 New York Avenue, Evansville; Fred, connected with amusement enterprises at Chicago, Illinois ; Frank, Mary and Alice Caroline, who are deceased; and William, formerly a druggist at Evansville, who moved to San Antonio, Texas, where his death occurred. Frank Muntzer was an infant when brought by his parents to Evansville, and here he received his education in the public schools, graduating from Central High School as a member of the class of 1892. He then took a one-year course at the Spen- cerian Business College and in 1893 entered the employ of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with which concern he was for three years engaged in work of a clerical nature. At this time Mr. Muntzer went to East St. Louis, where he found employment with Swift & Company, packers, in the National Stock Yards, and dur- ing the six years that he was with this concern won repeated pro- motions until finally he was in charge of the produce accounting department. Returning to Evansville, he became weighmaster and bookkeeper at the Evansville Union Stock Yards, from which position he was promoted, by various stages, to the office of man-
408
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGHI COUNTY
ager, the duties of which he assumed in 1920. He has made a splendid record in welding together a solid and substantial organi- zation and in making this industry one of the important ones of the city and surrounding country. Mr. Muntzer is a Republican. He belongs to the Reed 'Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Hadi Temple, A. A. O. N. M S .; Crescent City Court No. 122, Tribe of Ben Hur ; Orian Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 116. His military record includes service as' a National Guardsman during the Spanish-American war. De- cember 22, 1896, Mr. Muntzer was united in marriage with Otta Ola, daughter of William Waller Stockwell, who was formerly engaged in the liquor business at Evansville. To this union there have been born three children : Charles, who attended high school and graduated from Lockyear's Business College in 1918, and is now employed at the Stock Yards as a bookkeeper ; Helen Audry, also a graduate from high school and from Lockyear's Business College, class of 1923, who resides with her parents; and Dorothy Louise, who is attending high school. Mr. and Mrs. Muntzer and their children are members of St. Paul's congregation of the Epis- copal church.
Alvin Neff. Included among the younger generation of busi- ness men of Evansville, who are taking advantage of the oppor- tunities for advancement to be found in the business world of this city, and are thereby winning success and position, is Alvin Neff, vice president of the Schuler Implement Company. Mr. Neff was born in Posey county, Indiana, September 4, 1897, and is a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Wildeman) Neff. His paternal grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, whence he came to Vanderburgh county and here passed the remainder of his life in the pursuits of farm- ing. Frank Neff, the father of Alvin, was born in Vanderburgh county, but in young manhood went to Posey county, where he farmed for some years. He then moved to a farm near Armstrong, Indiana, where he tilled the soil for ten years, and finally, in 1919, came to Evansville, where he is now president of the Schuler Im- plement Company, of which he was one of the founders. He is sixty years of age and one of the strong and stable business men of the city, with a number of large interests and several important connections. Mrs. Neff, who also survives, was born in 1872 in Posey county. Alvin Neff attended the common schools of Van- derburgh county, following which he pursued a course at the Lock- year Business College, during 1915 and 1916. During 1917 and 1918 he was employed as a bookkeeper in Evansville business houses, and in 1919 he became one of the purchasers of the Schuler Implement Company. This venture has proven a very successful one, and Mr. Neff's activities have been factors in contributing to its growth and prosperity. The officers of the company are : Frank Neff, president; Alvin Neff, vice president; Joseph Hoef- ling, treasurer ; and Benjamin Aman, secretary. Mr. Neff belongs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In politics he is a Republican,
1
409
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
and his religious connection is with St. Boniface Church. June 2, 1921, Mr. Neff married Marie, daughter of Joseph and Mary Fish- er, of Mount Vernon, Indiana.
Alfred E. Neucks. The profession of architecture undoubtedly offers a great future to those equipped by nature and study for this line of work. It demands, however, a thorough technical knowl- edge of numerous subjects, but its rewards are commensurate with its difficulties and on the pages of history the names of architects who have accomplished great attainments appear with other bene- factors of mankind. The city of Evansville has its full quota of these able men, and prominent among them is Alfred E. Neucks, who is working his way rapidly to the forefront through the me- dium of his own ability and efforts. Mr. Neucks was born at Evansville, November 25, 1892, and is a son of Ernst and Henrietta (Schenck) Neucks. His father, a native of near Hanover, Ger- many, was a young man when he came to the United States and was first engaged in the grocery business at Boonville, Indiana. On his arrival at Evansville, he opened a grocery at Third Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, whence he moved to 1509 Main Street, at which address Alfred E. Neucks was born. Ernst Neucks was a well known man of his day and locality, and was requested to run for county office, but refused, preferring to give his time and atten- tion to his business interests. He was a charter member of St. Lucas Church, and at one time was treasurer of the old local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His death occurred in 1898, when he was sixty years of age, his son Alfred E. being only six years old at the time. Mrs. Neucks, who survives him at the age of seventy-two years, was born in Missouri, a daughter of Reverend Schenck, who at one time was pastor of the Methodist church at Inglefield. There were the following children in the family : Carl, of Evansville ; Emily, now Mrs. Emil R. Viehe; Anna, now Mrs. Klutey; of Henderson, Kentucky, where her husband is connected with the Kleymeyer and Klutey Brick and Tile Com- pany ; Ida, a professional trained nurse, at Chicago ; three sons, de- ceased ; and Alfred E. Alfred E. Neucks attended the public schools of Evansville, and on leaving high school, having decided upon the calling which he would follow, entered the office of H. B. Hammond, an architect, with whom he worked for one year. He then entered the employ of Wills & Ingle, architects, with whom he continued for a like period, and on leaving that concern became associated with Mr. Boyle of the firm of Brubaker, Stern & Boyle, of Indianapolis, the Evansville office being under the management of the last named member of the firm. Mr. Neucks continued with the firm for eleven years, the last several years of which it was known as H. E. Boyle & Company, Messrs. Brubaker and Stern having withdrawn. In the spring of 1920 Mr. Neucks embarked in a business of his own, and now has well-appointed offices in the Peoples Bank Building, suite 515. He has made a success of his profession thus far and has secured a number of commissions for
410
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
important work, having been the designer of some of Evansville's large, handsome and imposing structures and beautiful residences. He is a member of the Indiana Society of Architects, the Optimist Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Knights of Pythias, and in politics maintains an independent stand. His religious faith is that of Bethel Evangelical Church, and at present he is a member of the church board. October 27, 1914, Mr. Neucks was united in marriage with Maytha, daughter of Jacob and Mary L. (Riepe) Seip, of Evansville, and to this union there have been born three children: Jack Alfred, Edward Carl and Marilyn Maytha.
John J. Nolan. Since 1914 the office of postmaster of Evans- ville has been capably and conscientiously filled by John J. Nolan, long known as one of his city's most able and constructive citizens. During his career as a business man, he earned merited success, at the same time finding the opportunity to accomplish much that added to the city's growth and welfare. Mr. Nolan is a native of Evansville, and was born August 31, 1859, a son of William J. and Anne (Roche) Nolan, natives of Ireland and married there, who emigrated to the United States in 1855. Locating at Evans- ville, William J. Nolan found employment at his trade as a stone- cutter, and was thus employed until the Civil war, when he en- listed in Company I, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He was wounded at the battle of Perryville, and died at Corinth, Mississippi, November 1, 1863, being buried in an unknown grave. He had reached the age of forty-one years and was the father of six children : Eugene, who served as a soldier during the Civil war and died in 1877; William J., who in 1885 moved to Paris, Tennes- see, where he died in 1913; John J .; Mrs. Sarah F. Garrity, Mrs. Marv Halpin and Mrs. Anna Roche. Mrs. Nolan, who was born in 1823, died in February, 1894. John J. Nolan attended the public schools, but left high school to assist in the support of the family, and secured a position as messenger boy with the Western Union Telegraph Company. While thus engaged he took the opportun- ity offered of learning the art of telegraphy, after mastering which he became an operator and for fourteen years served as a knight of the key, for the most time as an Associated Press operator with
the Western Union. He was so employed from 1877 until 1891, during which time he served a term in the Legislature, from 1888 to 1890. In 1891 Mr. Nolan was made president and general man- ager of the People's Electric Light and Power Company, at Evans- ville, and served in this capacity for ten years, or until 1901, when the property was sold. In the meantime, in 1893, under appoint- ment of President Cleveland, he had served as postmaster of Evansville. In 1901 Mr. Nolan embarked in the coal business, and remained therein until 1906, being then appointed city comptroller by Mayor John Boehne, a capacity in which he served three vears. He was also mayor of the city for one year, and in 1910 became general manager of the Public Service Company, later be- coming vice president and a director of the Merchants Bank, in
411
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
which position he served until again presented with the postmast- ership, April 1, 1914. During the late war Postmaster Nolan, while acting as president of the Evansville Chamber of Com- merce, was chairman of the Liberty Loan drives and organizer and chairman of the American Red Cross at Evansville. He is a lead- ing Rotarian and is fraternally affiliated with the B. P. O. Elks, of which he was exalted ruler in 1905. October 18, 1887 Mr. Nolan married Miss Vallie Fitzwilliam, of St. Louis, and to this union there have been born two sons: Val, an attorney of Evansville, a lieutenant of artillery during the World war, who is married and has two children,-John Patrick and Val, Jr .; and Eugene E., vice president of the Bennighof-Nolan Company, of Evansville, who enlisted as a private during the World war.
E. S. O'Hara, manager of the Evansville Sash and Door Com- pany, has become well known to the citizens of the county seat of Vanderburgh county during the eight or more years that he has occupied his present position. From young manhood, when he left the farm to seek his fortune in business affairs, he has been identified in one or another way with the lumber and sawmill busi- ness and the experience which he has gained has come through first-hand knowledge and contact with active operations. Mr. O'Hara was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, February 2nd, 1863, a son of Charles and Jane O'Hara. His parents were farm- ing people and he was reared in an agricultural community, where he obtained his early education through attendance at the country schools. He remained under the parental roof, assisting his father with the farm work, until he was twenty-two years of age, at which time he went to Illinois, where he worked on a farm for a time near Aurora, then returned to Louisville, Kentucky, where he secured a position with C. C. Mengel, Jr., & Brother Company, working in the sawmills of his employers in Tennessee. Later he transferred his services to the firm of W. J. Hughes & Sons Company, 'Louis- ville, Kentucky, and when he left their employ, in 1905, it was to go to the Anson-Hixon Sash & Door Company, at Indianapolis, where he accepted a position as traveling salesman for a large Wisconsin Corporation. He was later transferred to Evansville, where he represented this concern in the same capacity until July 1915, when he was made general manager of the Evansville Sash and Door Company, a branch of the Wisconsin corporation, which had been founded in 1906. Mr. O'Hara is one of the live and hust- ling business men of his city, fully abreast of all advancements of the trade and alert to take any honorable advantage of opportunity that may arise. In politics he is a Democrat, but confines his ac- tivities in politics to casting his vote and to taking a good citizen's interests in matters that affect the community. He belongs to the United Commercial Travelers, and was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. O'Hara is a nephew of and the only living relative of Theo- dore O'Hara, who was born in 1820, at Danville, Kentucky, and
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.