USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 48
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was a lawyer and journalist. He was at one time an officer in the United States Navy. He was likewise connected with the Lopez and Warner movements. During the Mexican war he served first as captain and later as major, and afterward, for a year, in the United States cavalry. During the Civil war he cast his fortunes with the Confederacy and commanded a regiment with the rank of colonel. He did not long survive his Civil war experiences, dying June 7, 1867, in Barbour county, Alabama. Colonel O'Hara's fame lies principally in his authorship of the beautiful poem "The Bivouac of the Dead," quotations from which are to be found on all national monuments in the world, while the poem in its entirety is seen on the shaft in England erected to the memory of the British soldiers who lost their lives during the Boer war. February 8, 1905, Mr. O'Hara married Elnora Church, which courtship began when they were still members of the "A. B. C." class in the country school. To this union there has been born one daughter, Gene- vieve, who was formerly on the stage with the Charles Frohman Opera Company of New York City, but who is now married and living in California.
Leonard C. Oliver. Prominent among the men who in recent years have taken advantage of the opportunities offered at Evansville for the gaining of business success and in so doing have reached promi- nence, is Leonard C. Oliver, the proprietor of a flourishing brokerage enterprise. Mr. Oliver is also well known in club circles and is a gen- eral favorite with the many acquaintances whom he has made since his arrival at Evansville in 1919. Mr. Oliver was born at Cordell, Ala- bama, June 12, 1881, and is a son of L. C. and Phoebe ( Price) Oliver. His father, who was for some years a school teacher in Texas, later removed to Indian Territory, subsequently Oklahoma, where he en- gaged in the general store business, and there continued to reside until his death, which occurred Labor Day, 1918. Mrs. Phoebe Oliver was a daughter of Reuben Price, who was a minister of the Methodist church, and for many years was prominent in church affairs. She was a native of Alabama and died when Leonard C. Oliver was six years of age. When about nine years old, Leonard was taken by his father to Indian Territory, where he completed his education in the public schools. He left his studies when he was fourteen years of age and secured employment on a farm, also being employed in a sawmill. Leaving the latter he engaged in railroad work until 1914, when he embarked in the brokerage business in Oklahoma. In 1919 he came to Evansville and opened a brokerage office at No. 215. S. 4th Street, and later at No. 209, South Second Street. Soon he found his quarters too small and moved to his present offices in the American Trust Building at Sixth and Main Streets. He has built up a large and important clientele and has established himself firmly in the confidence of his business associates. Mr. Oliver is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce, the Kiwanis, Twelve Six, Shrine Booster Clubs, and the Turn- ers, in all of which he is active and popular. He is a member of the Elks, is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. With Mrs. Oliver, he belongs to the Methodist church. He is
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a Republican in political sentiment, but takes only a good citizen's in- terest in political affairs. July 21, 1919, Mr. Oliver was united in marriage with Miss Stella Althouse, of Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Oliver is widely known in musical circles as the possessor of a voice that has won her praise from the highest critics. She received instruc- tion under the best vocal teachers in New York, and then for five years in concert work. Since her marriage she has been very prominent not only in musical circles of Evansville, but in social affairs and move- ments which affect the welfare of the city and its people.
Arthur H. Ortmeyer. In a career that has been marked by activities in several lines of business industry, Arthur H. Ortmeyer has worked his way to a position of substantiality in life insurance circles of Evansville, Vanderburgh county and southern Indiana. At the same time he has taken a leading part in a number of movements which have served to contribute to the betterment of his community, and has been generous with his time, means and abilities in the acquirement of beneficial results. Mr. Ortmeyer was born at Evansville, February 3, 1885, and is a son of John H. and Wilhelmina ( Becker) Ortmeyer, the former of whom was born at Evansville, while the latter was a native of Vanderburgh county. The paternal grandfather of Arthur H. Ort- meyer, John B. Ortmeyer, was born in Germany. There he learned the trade of cabinetmaker, and about the year 1849 came to the United States and took up his residence at Evansville, where he passed the remainder of his life at his calling. John H. Ortmeyer was born in 1850, and after securing a public school education followed in the footsteps of his father and learned the cabinetmaker's trade. Through- out his active life he followed that trade and after several years spent in retirement died December 4, 1918, at the age of sixty-eight years. During the later years of his life he was a manufacturer of furniture and a partner in the firm of L. Puster & Company. He married Wil- helmina Becker, who was born in 1852, and still survives. Her father was born in 1795, in Germany, and was for four years in the army of Napoleon, under whose command he fought through the Russian cam- paign. He brought his family to the United States during the early '40s engaging in farming in German township, Vanderburgh county, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in 1881, at the age of eighty- six years. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ortmeyer : Daniel H., John D., Arthur H., Edmund J. and Amelia. Arthur H. Ortmeyer attended the public schools and after graduating from the high school in June, 1902, entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At that time he went to Chicago, where he was identified with the piano business, as he was also at New York City, where he worked four years for John Wanamaker. He was at Chicago from 1906 until the fall of 1907, and at New York from 1907 until December, 1911, when he returned to Chicago and became an official of the Ed G. Davies Company, in which business he had a financial interest. In May, 1913, his health failed and upon the advice of his physician he went to Denver, Colorado. It was while there that he became inter- ested in the insurance business, and on his return to Evansville, fully
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restored to health, in June, 1915, he became agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. In September, 1916, he became special agent for the Northwestern Life Insurance Company, and in August, 1919, was made manager for the district covering Vanderburgh county and southern Indiana. He has increased the business of his company greatly since taking charge at Evansville, where he has offices on the fourth floor of the Old State Bank Building. He has been prominent in insurance circles and at various times has served as vice-president, secretary and treasurer of the local underwriters' association. Mr. Ortmeyer is a Republican, and on one occasion had charge of registra- tion for the Republican party, having been appointed by the party county chairman. He is a member of St. Lucas Church, and is greatly interested in church and Sunday school work, and is now serving as president of the Federation of Brotherhoods in southern Indiana. He was the organizer of the Newcomers Club of Evansville, is ex-secre- tary of the local Anti-Tuberculosis Society, a former director of the state board of that society, and a member of the Evansville Chamber of Commerce and the Country Club. December 26, 1910, Mr. Ortmeyer married Miss Margaret Davies, of Chicago, and they have one son : John Edward, born October 14, 1916.
Daniel H. Ortmeyer, one of the well-known practitioners of law of Evansville, is also a prominent figure in Republican politics in Van- derburgh county and connected with several leading business and financial enterprises. He was born at Evansville, November 14, 1880, a son of John H. and Wilhelmina (Becker) Ortmeyer, the former a native of Evansville and the latter of Vanderburgh county. John B. Ortmeyer, the paternal grandfather of Daniel H. Ortmeyer, was born in Germany, where he learned the cabinet maker's trade, and about 1849 came to the United States and settled at Evansville, where he spent the rest of his life following his vocation. John H. Ortmeyer was born in 1850, and after receiving a public school education learned the cabinet makers' trade under the guidance of his father. He fol- lowed that occupation throughout his active career, and died in 1920, when seventy years of age, after several years of retirement. From cabinet making, he gradually developed into a furniture manufacturer, and eventually became a partner in the firm of L. Puster & Company. Mr. Ortmeyer married Wilhelmina Becker, who was born in 1852, and is now living in Evansville. Her father was born in Germany, in 1795, and saw service of four years in the army of Napoleon, fighting through the Russian campaign. During the early '40s he brought his family to the United States and engaged in farming in German town- ship, Vanderburgh county, where he passed the rest of his life, dying in 1881, at the age of eighty-six years. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ortmeyer : Daniel H., John D., Arthur H., Edmund J. and Amelia. Daniel H. Ortmeyer received his early education in the public schools of Evansville, and after his graduation, in 1898, from the high school, entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1901. Returning to Evansville, he studied for a time under the preceptorship of Judge R. D. Richardson, and after his admission to the bar began practice with
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his preceptor, in association with whom he remained until Judge Rich- ardson's death seven years later. He then formed a partnership with Philip C. Gould, since elevated to the bench, but after one and one- half years this association was dissolved, and in 1909 Mr. Ortmeyer joined George A. Cunningham in forming the firm of Cunningham & Ortmeyer. Mr. Cunningham died in 1916, since which time Mr. Ort- meyer has been practicing alone, his present offices being in the Mer- cantile-Commercial Bank Building. Mr. Ortmeyer served as county attorney for four years, from 1907 to 1911. He has been very prom- inent in Republican politics, and after having been secretary of the Re- publican county central committee for two terms, served as its chair- man in 1906, 1908 and 1910. On one occasion he was the candidate of his party for Congress, but met with defeat. For fifteen or sixteen years Mr. Ortmeyer has been a member of the board of trustees of the Willard Library. He has several business connections, being a director of the National City Bank and the Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the B. P. O. Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, the Evansville Country Club and the Columbus Club of Indianapolis. His religious connection is with St. Lucas Evan- gelical Church. June 30, 1909, Mr. Ortmeyer married Emma, daugh- ter of Jacob L. Knauss, of Evansville, connected with the Phoenix Flour Mill.
Lane Boyd Osborn. During his long and honorable connection with the bar of Vanderburgh county, Lane Boyd Osborn has exem- plified and occupied a position of prominence in his profession and one of esteem in the attitude of his contemporaries. He has been identified with a number of prominent cases which have come be- fore the courts, and at present is a member of the strong legal com- bination of Osborn & Sappenfield. Mr. Osborn was born in Spenc- er county, Indiana, August 20, 1864, and received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native community. After spend- ing two years at the Indiana State Normal School, he began his career as a school teacher, but at the end of three years gave up the labors of an educator to begin the study of law in the office of H. M. Logsdon, now of Evansville, but then of Rockport. Admitted to the bar in 1889, he followed his calling at Rockport for a time and then went to Oklahoma, where he was engaged in practice from 1893 to 1899. In January of the latter year he came to Evansville, which has since been his place of residence and the scene of his success. For many years he was in partnership with Judge Thomas Van Buskirk, this association being dissolved in 1912, and Mr. Osborn then proceeded to practice alone until 1921, when he formed an association with J. W. Sappenfield, under the style of Osborn & Sappenfield. They carry on a general practice and occupy offices at 123 South Fourth Street. Mr. Osborn served two terms as prosecuting attorney, discharging his duties in a capable manner. In 1920 he was a candidate for judge of the Probate Court, being nominated in the primaries but defeated in the election. Again in 1922 he was a candidate, this time for
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judge of the Superior Court, and although nominated in the primaries met with defeat at the polls by the margin of 320 votes. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. He has numerous connec- tions of a professional, civic and social character and takes an active part in all movements making for the betterment of Evans- ville and the advancement of the interest of its people. June 1, 1893, Mr. Osborn was united in marriage with Miss Amy Hayford, of Rock- port, Indiana, and to this union there have been born five children : Daniel H., a graduate of the Evansville high school and the University of Indiana, and now a student of law, who had training for the World war at the officers' training school, Camp Hancock, Georgia; Louise B., a graduate of the Evansville high school, and the University of Indiana, degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, now a stu- dent of Yale College for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. has been elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity ; Lane Boyd, Jr., a graduate of Evansville high school, and now attending Evansville College; and William Paul and Robert G., who are attending the graded schools. Mr. Osborn and his family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
Ben N. Paul, for twenty years the Secretary and Manager of the Peerless Laundry, now located at 720 South Eighth Street, has been known as one of the leading establishments of its kind at Evansville. and has been enjoying a constantly increasing patronage. It has during this time been under the capable and energetic management of Ben N. Paul, a man well known in business circles of the city who has also taken an active part in civic affairs. Mr. Paul was born at Evansville, April 9, 1873, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Ehrlich) Paul, natives of Germany, both of whom are now deceased. Robert Paul was nine- teen years of age when he immigrated to the United States and in 1869 took up his residence at Evansville, where he established himself in business as a merchant tailor. After spending some thirtv-five years in this city he moved to Oklahoma, founded a retail clothing business, and made that state his home until his death in 1918, when he was seventy-three years of age. Mrs. Paul passed away October 29, 1916, when sixty-seven years of age. They were the parents of ten children. Ben N. Paul received a common school education, attending the old Canal Street school, and during vacation periods worked in the drug store of Joseph F. Bomm & Brother, receiving a weekly wage of $1. On leaving school he worked for one year in the drug store at $2 per week, to learn the business, but at the end of that time decided that the vocation of pharmacist was not his line and accordingly resigned and became associated with his father, with whom he remained until reaching the age of twenty-one years. He then secured a position as traveling salesman on the road, traveling out of Evansville for five years selling working clothing as the representative of the Triangle Overall Company, and following this spent a like period traveling out of New York City selling boy's and children's clothing. In 1903 Mr. Paul purchased from Mrs. T. C. Birtwell the Peerless Laundry, which had been established some five years before. Under his management
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this plant has built up a reputation as one of the highest quality laun- dries from coast to coast. The laundry was situated originally at Sixth and Main Street, but Mr. Paul increased the business to such an extent that larger quarters and more modern facilities were needed to care for it, and he accordingly built his present plant, at Oak and Eighth Streets, in 1914. He now has an establishment of the most up-to-date kind, with highly improved laundry machinery and a large force of expert workers. Mr. Paul has established a reputation for quick and courteous service and high-class work, while as a business man he has won confidence by straightforward dealing. Politically he is a Re- publican. He takes an interest in civic affairs, and is outspoken and forceful in maintaining his views on questions of public import. Fra- ternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the B. P. O. Elks, in addition to which he holds membership in the Evansville Club, the Clear Crest Club and the Kiwanis Club. He is also a member of Washington Avenue Temple. In 1899 Mr. Paul was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Freeman, of Olney, Illinois, and to this union there have been born two sons: Meyer, who was a volunteer in the Student Army Training Camp during the late war ; and Lester.
John H. Peters, director of vocational training of the public schools of Evansville, perhaps has accomplished as much for the cause of practical education in the schools of this city as any other individual. His duties are numerous and responsible, but his own training before he assumed the position which he now holds were of a nature and character which fitted him eminently for this work, in which he has achieved marked and recognized success. Mr. Peters was born in Posey county, Indiana, August 22, 1874, and is a son of John and Dorothy (Goeke) Peters. John Peters was born in 1829, in Darmstadt, Germany, and when seventeen years of age immigrated to the United States with a brother, who later became a veterinary surgeon in Posey county. John Peters took up farming when he located in Posey county, Indiana, and soon became a loyal and patriotic citizen. When the Civil war came on he en- listed in an Indiana volunteer infantry regiment, with which he served gallantly for one and one-half years, and then returned to his farming activities, in which he continued to be engaged until about 1902, then coming to Evansville and going into retirement. Here he died January 12, 1917. He was a stanch Republican in his political views, and always took an active part in politics. For a number of years he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Peters, who died May 1, 1917, at the age of eighty- five years, was born in Prussia, and was sixteen years of age when brought by her parents to America, the family settling in Posey county, where her father passed his life in agricultural pursuits. The only child of his parents, John H. Peters attended public school in Posey county, and later received higher schooling at Evansville. After pursuing a business course at the Lockyear Business College, he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's
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trade and one and one-half years later took up millwright work, later turning his attention to work in furniture factories, where during his seven years of experience he became foreman and super- intendent at the United States Furniture Company. Following this, Mr. Peters took further educational training and in 1914 be- gan teaching in a night school as a vocational instructor. This, at first, was really an experiment on the part of the school board, but one year's thorough trial decided its value and Mr. Peters, who in the meanwhile had been equipping himself still further for this kind of work, was asked by the authorities to became a day teacher along the same line. He spent three years as a teacher, and when Mr. Graham resigned, Mr. Peters was appointed director of voca- tional training for the Evansville public schools, a position which he has since retained, and the duties of which he assumed in Sep- tember, 1917, these including the supervision of the manual train- ing in the grades and high schools of Evansville. Mr. Peters is enthusiastic about his work, and in addition to the duties above mentioned assists the State Rehabitulation Department in its work in behalf of men injured in vocational occupations. This service assists the individuals in securing artificial limbs, in putting them into training for new occupations, if needed, or improving their ability in their present trade if their injuries permit them to con- tinue. He is president of the Vocational Directors Club of Indi- ana, and a member of the School Masters' Club and the Child Wel- fare Committee. In politics he was formerly an active Republican, until his school duties began to claim so much of his time and at- tention. He belongs to St. Lucas Church, where he was a member of the board of trustees for three years and superintendent of the adult department of the Sunday school, and likewise belongs to the Brotherhood of St. Lucas, the Court of Honor, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Sons of Veterans and the Kiwanis Club. March 18, 1903, Mr. Peters married Selma, daughter of Herman and Mary Klamer, of Evansville, Mr. Klamer having been one of the early county commissioners of Vanderburgh county. To Mr. and Mrs. Peters there have been born two children: Richard J. and Eloise Laura.
Fred M. Petersheim. The wholesale and retail drug interests of Evansville have a capable, energetic and worthy representative in the person of Fred M. Petersheim, the proprietor of a flourishing enterprise at 224 South Water Street. He has been identified with this line of business since entering upon his career, and, having let no other interests draw his attention from this field of activity, has been able to build up a stable and thriving industry. Mr. Petersheim was born at Evansville, November 14, 1859, and is a son of Fred and Christine (Meyer) Petersheim. The parents were born in Germany, whence they immigrated to the United States in 1859, settling at once at Evansville, where Fred Petersheim, a flour
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mill man, secured employment at his trade. He worked thus for many years, and likewise was engaged as a packer for a long per- iod, and was always a sober, industrious and reliable workman and citizen, as well as an active worker in the Lutheran church. He died in 1904, when seventy-three years of age, his widow surviving him until 1909, when she passed away at the age of eighty-three years. Fred M. Petersheim attended the parochial and public schools and began his career in the drug business as a clerk in the pharmacy of Doctor Newell, located at Locust and Second Streets, in 1873. He remained with Doctor Newell for three years and in 1876 joined the forces of the wholesale drug firm of Keller & White Drug Company, with which he was associated until 1883. Mr. Petersheim then opened his present establishment at 224 South Water Street, and has been successful in the development of an excellent business. In addition to enjoying a large local retail trade, he supplies physicians and surgeons as a wholesaler all over southern Indiana, southern Illinois and parts of Kentucky, car- rying a full line of all standard drugs, medicines, toilet articles, rubber goods, druggists' sundries, etc. His long record of straight- forward and honorable dealing has given him a high standing in business circles, in which he has made and maintained numerous lasting friendships. He is treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Advance Stove Works. In civic affairs he has been active, having for many years been a director of the Asso- ciated Charities, and at one time served by appointment as county councilman. Politically, he is a Democrat, and his religious con- nection is with the Trinity Lutheran Church, of which he has been a trustee for many years. October II, 1884, Mr. Petersheim was united in marriage at Evansville, with Minnie, daughter of Henry and Julia (Loebs) Fischer, of this city, and to this union there has been born one daughter: Minnie, who is now Mrs. Ralph Tresselt.
Guy M. Purcell. The seed business and the vocation of agri- culture are so closely allied that a knowledge of the one implies at least a general knowledge of the other. In his early years Guy M. Purcell, president of the Purcell Seed Company, of Evansville, was reared to the pursuits of the farmer, and while his chief inter- ests are centered at this time in the seed enterprise which bears his name, he still devotes considerable of his time to agriculture, and is the owner of a well-cultivated property not far from the city. Mr. Purcell was born at Shawneetown, Gallatin county, Illinois, December 21, 1886, and is a son of James A. and Anna (Wiseheart) Purcell. His paternal grandfather was a native of Virginia who left the Old Dominion with three brothers, of whom one settled at Vincennes, Indiana, while the others continued on to southern Illinois. In that community the grandfather of Mr. Purcell en- gaged in farming until his death. He had four sons: James A., Charles, Melvin and William. James A. Purcell was born in Vir- ginia and was still a lad when he accompanied his father to Illi- nois. He was reared a farmer lad and engaged in tilling the soil
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