USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 57
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
John S. Wilson. For thirty-five years the hardware, implement and seed business of John S. Wilson, at 1217 Main Street, has been one of the business landmarks of Evansville, representing, as it does, the substantial, conservative element that has been one of
484
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
the city's bulwarks of prestige. Mr. Wilson, now in the evening of his career, has retired somewhat from the more active affairs of the community, but the business which he founded, and which is well-known to the people of Evansville, still operates as testi- mony to his business acumen and sound integrity. Mr. Wilson was born at New York City, December 15, 1854, and is a son of Alexander and Cynthia (Wilson) Wilson, natives of Ireland. His father was a young man when he emigrated to the United States, taking up his residence at New York City in 1833 and remaining in the metropolis for twenty-two years. For the first eleven years of this time he was in the employ of the chemistry department of the Tieman Paint Works, and then for eleven years he was employed by the Stevenson Bus Company, manufacturers of omnibuses. In 1855, acting upon the advice of a friend, Joseph Parks, who had come to Indiana some time before, Mr. Wilson took up his resi- dence in the north end of Vanderburgh county, and for four years farmed forty acres of land there. He moved then four miles fur- ther north, purchasing an eighty-acre farm which touched the county border, and there continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1873. He was a man of integrity and energy and accounted a good citizen of the several communities in which he made his home. Mrs. Wilson and her two sons, John S. and George, remained on the farm until July, 1880, at which time they came to Evansville, where Mrs. Wilson died in 1886. John S. Wilson acquired a common school education and was reared on the home farm. He was twenty-six years of age when he came to Evansville, and here secured employmnt with John Theo Rechtin, a lumber merchant, with whom, however, he remained only one week. He then went to work for John Griese, who conducted a seed and implement business at 414 Main Street, and continued in his employ until September 1, 1888, when he engaged in the same line of business on his own account. His establishment was then a structure 25x50 feet, but since that time, with the increase of business, Mr. Wilson has been compelled to enlarge it, and it is now a handsome structure of two stories 50x142 feet, one of the substantial buildings of its locality, of which Mr. Wilson has every right to be proud. Mr. Wilson built up his busi- ness through industry, perseverance and honorable dealing, and no man has a better reputation in business circles. He is a director in the North Side Bank, and has several other interests, business, social and civic. Politically he is independent in his voting. Sep- tember 14, 1882, at Niagara Falls, New York, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Tuhill, who died August II, 1918, leaving two children: Mrs. R. J. Burk, of Indianapolis ; and Hiram, who entered the United States Army in July, 1918, and after coming out of the service in 1919 took charge of his father's business as manager.
Charles Wolflin, secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Wolflin West Side Lumber Company, is one of the men of
485
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Evansville who has traveled the hard self-made road to success. Entering upon his career in the lumber business as a youth, he has worked his way steadily upward and now finds himself at the head of a business which is fully representative of the city's thriving industry and prosperity. Mr. Wolflin was born at Mount Vernon, Indiana, September 1, 1865, a son of George and Caroline (Schaum) Wolflin. His father, a native of Germany, came to the United States at the age of twenty years and for a long period operated flour mills at Evansville and Mount Vernon. He was also well known in public life, having served as sheriff of Vander- burgh county during the Civil war, and at the time of his death, in 1873, when he was about forty years of age, was a member of the State Legislature. Mrs. Wolflin, who was born in the city of Ber- lin, Germany, survives her husband as a resident of Evansville. There were four children in the family : Charles, Jacob, of Chicago; and Mrs. L. J. Kramer and Mrs. C. C. Heddrich, both of Evans- ville. Brought to Evansville by his parents as a lad of six years, Charles Wolflin attended the public schools of this city, after leav- ing which he entered the employ of the Little & Croft Lumber Company. He applied himself so assiduously to his duties that he soon mastered all details of the business, and was made an "all- around" man, acting as such for ten years. He then went on the road for various southern lumber companies, traveling extensively for seventeen years, but in 1916 again took up his permanent resi- dence at Evansville, and in that year became the chief organizer of the Wolflin West Side Lumber Company, of which he was made secretary, treasurer and general manager, offices which he has occupied to the present. At the start, this company employed only four men, and evidence of its rapid growth is found in the fact that today there are thirty-five men on the pay-roll. The concern bears an excellent standing in the business world, and a large part of this is due no doubt to Mr. Wolflin's well-known personal integrity. He is a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, and belongs to the Kiwanis Club and the Masonic fraternity. His religious connection is with the Bethel Evangelical Church, and in politics he is a Republican. December 25, 1890, Mr. Wolflin married Em- ma, daughter of John and Rachel Muth, old and highly respected residents of Evansville, and they have two children: Carl G. who is associated with his father in business, and Miss Alleen M. Wolf- lin, who resides with her parents.
Charles W. Yeck, M. D. In medical circles of Evansville, the name of Dr. Charles W. Yeck is recognized as that of a careful and accomplished physician, a steady-handed and thoroughly capable surgeon, and a citizen who has discharged in full the duties of civic life. He was born at Flora, Illinois, September 7, 1885, and is a son of Walter W. and Frances M. (Hanley) Yeck. Walter W. Yeck was born in West Virginia, March 12, 1855, and in young manhood went to Ohio, where he met and married a young woman who was a native of the Buckeye state, born October 15, 1861
486
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Not long after their marriage they moved to the vicinity of Flora, Illinois, where the father engaged in extensive agricultural activ- ities. A man of industry and good judgment, he made a success of his operations, and is now living in comfortable retirement at Flora. The only child of his parents, Charles W. Yeck was edu- cated in the graded and high schools of his native locality and on his graduation from the latter, in 1903, entered the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, later receiving the degree of Master of Arts from the same institution. He then went to the University of Chicago, for post-graduate work, and when he left that institution took further work at the Rush Medical College, of Chicago. He next attended Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, where he received his medical degree in 1911, then taking post-graduate medical work at the University of Wisconsin. To complete his preparation for the duties and heavy responsibilities of his profes- sion, he was an interne at the Chicago Hospital and the Dunning Hospital until 1912, in which year he came to Evansville and en- gaged in the general practice of his profession. Doctor Yeck has a large and lucrative practice and maintains well-appointed offices at 208 1-2 Main Street. He is a member of the Chi Psi fraternity of the University of Illinois and of the Phi Rho Sigma fraternity of Rush Medical College. He also holds membership in the Ki- wanis, Country and Lancet Clubs. Doctor Yeck was one of the first to enlist in the World war from Evansville, being a medical officer in the navy connected with the transportation of troops. He entered the service as assistant surgeon and was honorably dis- charged as surgeon, ranking the same as a lieutenant-commander in the navy. Doctor Yeck married at Evansville, Miss Leola Pfeiffer, daughter of Fred Pfeiffer, originally of Charles City, Iowa. Mrs. Yeck, who died August 15, 1922, was a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music and the Chicago University, and was a talented and accomplished musician, whose services were in almost constant demand in church choirs and entertainments of various kinds. Her death caused universal sorrow and was the cause of much comment by the press at the time.
John F. Young. The great World war, in addition to its many other results, brought about changes in the activities of countless companies both in this country and abroad. The exigencies and necessities of wartime production carried many firms into fields entirely outside of their former field of activity, and since the close of the war many of these concerns have developed the new branch of their business so that it has become the important one. This is the case with the John C. Smith Tool and Hoe Works, which, formerly only a tool and implement manufacturing concern, is now engaged actively in the building of coal mining cars, under the capable and energetic direction of John F. Young, president and manager. Mr. Young was born at Henderson, Kentucky, Novem- ber 27, 1869, and is a son of Bud and Mary Belle (Quinn) Young.
487
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
His father, a native of Virginia, was still a young man when he removed to Kentucky and was a cabinetmaker by trade, following this vocation not only in his adopted state, but also making special trips to Evansville when there was work to be done that was of a particular character. He died when his son was only one year old, and when the latter had reached his ninth year Mrs. Young married John C. Smith and moved to Evansville. Mr. Smith was the founder of the John C. Smith Tool and Hoe Works, of which Mr. Young is now president. Mr. Smith came to Evansville in 1850 and started a tool works at Seventh and Main Streets, where he likewise erected a double tenement building in the rear of the plant, which was occupied by him and his brother, J. G. Smith. The plant was operated by horse power, in the manufacture of tools, and the axes that came from the Smith factory were con- sidered in that day to be the only ones worth owning in this section of Indiana, being shipped by river to all sections. Mr. Smith re- mained at his original location until 1870, when he moved to the water works, that being the location of the plant until 1889. Dur- ing the following quarter of a century the factory was located on Parrett Street, and in 1914 was transferred to its present situation, at East Franklin Street and the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- road. In the meantime, in 1906, the company had been incorpor- ated with John F. Young as president and manager; John L. Young, vice president and engineer; and Mrs. Lottie B. Young, secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Young holding these offices in name only, as she takes no active part in the operation of the business. The company now employs from thirty-five to forty skilled me- chanics. During the World war, Mr. Young secured contracts for the building of cars used in the coal mines, and this proved so successful that he has since continued in the same line. This busi- ness has superceded tool manufacturing as the important depart- ment of John C. Smith Tool and Hoe Company, and Mr. Young feels that he is advantageously located to develop this branch into large proportions. The mother of Mr. Young died in 1920, aged seventy-seven years, in California. There were two children: John F. and Quinn, the latter of whom is now deceased. John F. Young was eleven years of age when he started to work for his stepfather, but for several years thereafter attended night school, and thus gained the education which has been necessary for the develop- ment of his important interests. He has always been connected with the same concern, and has played the principal part in its building up and development. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Interested in public affairs, he ran for the office of coun- ty clerk of Vanderburgh county in 1913, on the Progressive ticket, but met with defeat along with other candidates of that party. He is an active member of the First Christian Church, and from 1908 to 1915 was superintendent of the Sunday school. October 25, 1897, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Lottie Belle
488
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGII COUNTY
Larkin, of Corydon, Kentucky, and to this union there have been born two sons: John L. and Theodore B., both graduates of Indi- ana State University.
Carl W. Youngblood, who is well and prominently known in in- surance circles of Vanderburgh county, and whose activities like- wise extend into four other counties adjoining, has built up an excellent general agency business at Evansville, where he is dis- trict agent and adjustor for the Aetna Life and Accident Insurance Company. Mr. Youngblood was born at Boonville, Warrick coun- ty, Indiana, August 24, 1884, and is a son of A. L. and Samantha (Whitmere) Youngblood. William B. Youngblood, the grand- father of Carl W., was brought to Warrick county as a child of five years, and resided there all of his life, engaged in agricultural pur- suits, his death occurring in 1918 when he was eighty-one years of ยท age. A. L. Youngblood was born August 24, 1854, in Warrick county, and was one of the active and progressive men of that community. For nearly a quarter of a century he was engaged as a traveling salesman. He was always a stanch Republican, and served two terms as township trustee. He died June 12, 1923. Mrs. Youngblood, who was born at Bremen, Kentucky, is also deceased, her death having occurred in 1908. Carl W. Young- blood attended the public schools of Boonville, including the high school, and when he was only ten years old commenced carrying newspapers. He graduated when he was sixteen years of age, and from that time until he was eighteen had the subscription agency for the Evansville Courier at Boonville, where he succeeded in building up that newspaper's subscription list considerably. When eighteen years old he went to work in a dry goods store conducted by Wilson Brothers, a business with which he remained for five years, but resigned to open a newspaper and periodical stand, con- ducting this with some success for two years. June 10, 1910 Mr. Youngblood was united in marriage with Miss Edna A. Caswell, of Yankeetown, Indiana, and in the following year went to that vil- lage, where he became station agent for the E. & O. V. Railroad, a position which he retained for four years, returning then to Boon- ville. There he entered the insurance business and remained as a resident of that community until 1919 when he accepted the posi- tion of district agent and adjuster of automobile insurance and fire insurance in this district, with headquarters at Evansville, In- diana. His offices are located in the Furniture Building, whence he directs operations that cover the counties of Vanderburgh, War- rick, Spencer, Posey and Gibson. He also maintains a general agency, specializing in automobile insurance, and retains his agency at Boonville, where he is agent for the National Automo- bile Insurance Association and the Great Lakes, North River and United States Insurance Companies. Mr. Youngblood has made a success solely through his own efforts, and while so doing has installed himself in the confidence of those with whom he has been associated. A strong Republican, he has been active in campaign
489
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
work and is a great believer in harmony, whether in national or local affairs. As a progressive citizen of modern tendencies and enlightened views, he gives his support to civic enterprises which promise to be of benefit to the community. He holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce and in several social bodies. To Mr. and Mrs. Youngblood there have been born two children: William Caswell, born in 1911; and Iris Hazel, born in 1912.
Clarence H. Adams. Healing remedies are older than physi- cians and as far back as one may delve in ancient lore he may find mention of medicaments for some of the ills that seem to have al- ways afflicted the human race. At times the discovery of a new drug of surprising qualities, such as adrenalin, for example, has wrought wonderful changes and has been even a factor in advanc- ing civilization. Out of the hands of the ignorant and superstitious, the lawful administration of drugs has long since passed and the term druggist or pharmacist now means one who, after a protracted period of study and experiment, covering a number of the sciences, has passed a thorough and satisfactory examination before a learned scientific body. Into his hands then is practically placed life and death, for it is his knowledge of drugs and their effects that must guide him in handling the most careful of physicians' perscriptions, for his accuracy of measurement may change a tonic into a death draught. This it is no unimportant position that a druggist holds in a community and his personal standing is usually of the highest. Of the men of Evansville who follow this honorable calling, one who is not only learned in pharmacy but also spent a long period in the study of medicine is Clarence H. Adams, who conducts a modern establishment at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets. Mr. Adams was born at Cloverport, Kentucky, October 8, 1895, and there attended the public schools. Later he attended the Louisville College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1915, receiving his degree, and this was followed by a three-year course at the Louisville College of Medicine. Even as a lad of ten years Mr. Adams had commenced to show an interest in the drug business, securing a position in a pharmacy at Louis- ville, where he ran errands, delivered packages, swept the floor, and made himself generally useful, and in the meantime used his eyes and ears in learning all that he could about the calling. He continued as a resident of Louisville until 1919, in which year he came to Evansville and embarked in business on his own account at the corner of Walnut and Fourth Streets, where he has since maintained his enterprise and built up a thriving patronage. He carries a full line of goods usual to the stock of a first-class phar- macy and has gained public confidence and support by reason of his reliability and the high quality of his goods. He also has other interests and is the owner of the Acme Cigar Store, located at Sec- ond and Sycamore Streets, which is likewise a prosperous enter- prise. He is a supporter of modern movements for the advance- ment of Evansville and is considered a citizen of public spirit and
490
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
civic pride. Mr. Adams is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Shrine Booster Club. In 1915 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hoegar, of Louisville, Kentucky, and they occupy their own pleasant home at No. 1306 Kentucky Avenue.
Hiram J. Adler. As conducted by Hiram J. Adler, general agent at Evansville of the Mutual Benefit Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, the insurance business is an honorable, nec- essary and thoroughly praiseworthy accompaniment of civilized ex- istence. Its original and best tenets are upheld, and public confi- dence, that most necessary adjunct of stable business, is persistently maintained. Mr. Adler was born in a home on Main Street, Evans- ville, in 1875, and is a son of Jacob and Eva Adler, natives of Ger- many, both of whom are now deceased. Jacob Adler was born in 1827, and was about twenty-eight years of age when he arrived at Evansville. After some years of early struggles, he became one of the successful business men of the city and was a large dealer in and exporter of tobacco. His death occurred in 1892, when he was sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Adler, who was brought to the United States by her parents as a child of three months, survived her hus- band until 1917, passing away at the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom ten grew to maturity, and were honorable and Godfearing people who were es- teemed and respected by those among whom they lived for so many years. Hiram J. Adler was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the high school, following which he was variously employed until engaging in the insurance business in 1901 in an office at 321 South Third Street. He is now the oldest man in Indiana in point of service connected with the Mutual Benefit In- surance Company, which is a New Jersey concern operating in va- rious states of the Union. He has been successful in building up a large and profitable clientele, and at this time occupies offices at 301-305 Citizens Trust Building. As the years have passed, Mr. Adler has extended his interests to include other enterprises, and at this time is president of the Yellow Taxi Company, which operates a fleet of taxicabs for the convenience of Evansville people. He is a member of the board of directors of the Chero-Cola Company, a bottling concern of Evansville which manufactures a soft drink or non-alcoholic beverage, and was one of the organizers of this com- pany has enjoyed much success in the distribution of its product. Always a keen enthusiast as to baseball, Mr. Adler is interested in the National pastime as a promoter and owner, being a stockholder in the Evansville franchise since 1907. His connections are nu- merous, and he holds membership in the local lodges of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Order of Owls, the Clear Crest Country Club and the Evansville Club, in all of which he is popular. Mr. Adler has taken no active part in politics, but as a good citizen has been a generous supporter
491
HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
of enterprises which promise to be of benefit to his native city and its people. June 17, 1918, Mr. Adler was united in marriage at Evansville to Miss Jessie Oberndorfer, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and to this union there has come one son: Jacob Henry, who was born at Evansville, March 26, 1919.
Fritz Anderson. Among the architects who have contributed to the civic beauty and municipal attractiveness of the city of Evans- ville, Fritz Anderson occupies a substantial place. With the ex- ception of two years he has been a resident of Evansville since 1910, and during this period has been the designer and had charge of the building of some of the city's most handsome and stately struc- tures. Mr. Anderson was born in Sweden, in September, 1876, and there attended the public schools until reaching the age of ten years. At that time he accompanied his parents to the United States, the family settling in Knox county, Illinois, where the lad attended the country schools and later the high school located at Galesburg, Illinois. Having evidenced a marked preference and talent for the profession of architecture Mr. Anderson was sent to the Chicago School of Architecture at the Art Institute, Chicago, where he pursued a two-year course, and during the following four years traveled extensively throughout Illinois, Indiana and Penn- sylvania. He took up his residence at Evansville in 1912, and with the exception of two years spent at Indianapolis and Terre Haute, has continued to reside in this city. A splendid example of Mr. Anderson's ability in his profession is found in the McClain school building at Terre Haute, of which he had charge of the construc- tion. In addition to this many of the large buildings at Evansville have been designed by him and built under his supervision and he has reached a justly merited position in his calling. His offices are situated at No. 108 South Fourth Street. While he was past the age for service in the army or navy during the recent World war, Mr. Anderson contributed his help by working as a railroad em- ploye in the engineering department. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine and the Shrine Booster Club. His religious connection is with St. Mark's Church. In 1913 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Marie Witmer, of Evansville, and their pleasant and hospitable home is situated at No. 328 Jefferson Avenue.
Charles Parks Bacon, M. D. Among the old and greatly hon- ored retired residents of Evansville, none is more highly esteemed than Dr. Charles Parks Bacon, who for many years was engaged in the practice of medicine at Evansville until his retirement in 1917. Doctor Bacon was born in Christian county, Kentucky, September 6, 1836, and is a son of Charles A. Bacon. His father, a native of Virginia, was reared on a farm, and in young manhood adopted ag- ricultural work as his vocation. In 1832 he moved from Virginia to Christian county, Kentucky, where he first engaged in farming. and later embarked in a mercantile business in Lafayette and later was located at Garrettsburg, but finally returned to farming in
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.