A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 15

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > Indiana > A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I > Part 15

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his delight to immure himself in the depths of his mag- nificent private miscellaneous library, and linger for hours in rapt converse with his favorites, the intel- lectual giants of all times. He is still a young man, being but thirty-three years of age, and no one can foretell whether his future pathway will bloom with the bright blossoms of joy and success, or lie in the somber shadow of the gloomy cypress. Already has he won many victories on life's battle-fields, and it is no extravagant flight of fancy to indulge in the prediction that many more of life's triumphs will yet be his, while still we see him "actively employing the summer of his life in gathering honors for his name and garlands for his grave." We are indebted for the above sketch to Mr. Elbert M. Swan, a member of the Rockport bar. Since the above was writ- ten, Mr. Wedding, seeking a wider field of action, has re- moved to Evansville.

EST, VINCENT THARP, M. D., of Princeton, Indiana, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, February 16, 1812. His education was obtained in the common school and at an academy at Augusta, Kentucky, after which he engaged in teaching. While doing this he also read medicine, and afterwards attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, at Cin- cinnati. In the spring of 1839 he removed to Indiana, and settled in Pike County, near the present village of Union, and began as a physician, continuing in the oc- cupation there for some fourteen years, when, in 1853, he removed to Princeton, Gibson County, and has ever since been engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery, being the oldest resident physician in that city and vicinity. In politics he was an old-line Whig, and is now a Republican, but has never held or sought for any public office. He was married, in 1842, to Miss Charity Robb, daughter of Hon. David Robb, who set- tled in Knox County, Indiana, in the year 1800, and was, during his life one of the most prominent men of that county. She died during the first year of marriage, and in 1845 Doctor West was united to her sister, Miss Cornelia Robb. Of this marriage three daughters were born, all of whom are now living.

ELBORN, JOSEPH F., of Mt. Vernon, was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, August 6, 1818, and with his father's family emigrated to Mt. Vernon, Indiana, in 1833. His father was a wagon-maker, and worked at his trade at Mt. Vernon for five years after settling there. His circumstances did not admit of his giving his son more than a limited common school education. Joseph worked upon a small farm of his father's near Mt. Vernon, and at the age of

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twenty-one engaged for himself in farming and stock- raising about ten miles north of Mt. Vernon, in the town- ship of Robinson, in both of which he was very successful. He gave particular attention to the raising of hogs, hav- ing at one time over four hundred on his farm, and was especially interested in the improvement of the stock, securing the best breeds that could be obtained. In 1856 he leased his farm and removed to Mt. Vernon, where he entered into partnership with the late W. J. Lowry. The firm engaged largely in grain and produce dealings, and carried on an extensive business in pork- packing, having packed as many as nine thousand hogs in a single year. About 1862 Mr. E. T. Sullivan was admitted to the firm, which carried on a very extensive grain and produce business until after the close of the war. During a single year their transactions in corn alone amounted to four hundred and fifty thousand bush- els. This partnership continued till about 1872, and was a source of large profit to all of its members. After its dissolution, Mr. Welborn, in company with E. T. Sulli- van, C. A. Parke, and S. M. Leavenworth, organized the Mt. Vernon Banking Company, of which Mr. Wel- born was chosen president. The bank became very pop- ular, and did a flourishing business, Mr. Welborn re- maining at its head until 1877, when he sold out his in- terest. After retiring from the produce business, in 1872, he devoted his energies more particularly to real estate transactions, buying, improving, and selling farms in Posey County. His homestead farm of three hundred and sixty acres is reputed to be one of the finest and most profitable in the state. By a system of tile-draining he has reclaimed a considerable amount of land in Posey County, and by the same means has so improved his farms that they are among the best and most fertile lands in Indiana. He has now from fifteen to eighteen hundred acres in Posey County, most of which is of the very best kind, and this is but a portion of the amount he has improved and brought under cultivation. With his activity in business affairs, Mr. Welborn has been one of the most public-spirited citizens of Posey County. Hle was mainly instrumental in the organization of the Mt. Vernon and Grayville Railroad Company, and was its president until it was consolidated with the Illinois and Chicago Railroad Company. In 1858 he was elected treasurer of Posey County, which office he held for two years. In the fall of 1876 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the state Legislature, and served during the sessions of 1877 and 1878. Polit- ically he has always been a Democrat, strong in his con- victions. For fifteen years he was chairman of the county central committee; has been a delegate to nu- merous state conventions, and in 1864 was a member of the National Democratic Convention, held at Chicago,

. which nominated General Mcclellan for President. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Nancy Mills, whose father

was one of the early settlers of Posey County, and at an early day held the offices of sheriff and treasurer for a number of years. Her brother, Felix Mills, was several times elected sheriff, and was well known and very pop- ular in the county. Having begun life a poor boy, with but a limited education, Mr. Welborn, by his own exer- tions, has not only become a wealthy citizen and a large land-owner, but has advanced the material interests and added to the productive wealth of the state. It has been said that he who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a public benefactor. Viewed in this light, Mr. Welborn, who has reclaimed valueless ground, and, by a system of draining, has more than doubled the fertility and value of other lands, is indeed deserving of the gratitude of his fel- low-men. He has also distinguished himself in business affairs as a man of good executive ability, able to man- age successfully enterprises that require more than ordi- nary acumen and tact, and has the universal respect of his fellow-citizens for honor and integrity in business transactions. At the age of sixty-one years he is well preserved, as alert and energetic as when in the prime of life. He bids fair to continue his activity for many years.

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ELBORN, OSCAR M., Princeton, Indiana, Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of the state of Indiana, was born December 7, 1841, near Owensville, Gibson County, Indiana. He is a son of Samuel P. Welborn, a native of North Caro- lina, who settled in Indiana in 1833, and was a promi- nent farmer and citizen of Gibson County. Oscar M. Welborn received a high school education at Princeton, Indiana, and at the age of nineteen years commenced the study of law with Hon. A. C. Donald, one of the most prominent attorneys of Princeton. He then at- tended lectures, and graduated at the law school of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1863, when he returned to Prince- ton and was appointed clerk of the Circuit Court of the Gibson County Circuit, to fill a vacancy, holding the office some seven or eight months. He then entered upon the practice of law, in which he became quite successful, and took a prominent position among the younger members of the bar, securing in time a large business. He continued in practice until the year 1873, when he was appointed by Governor Hendricks to the office of Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the state of Indiana, to fill a vacancy. In the fall of the same year he was elected to the same office for six years, and in 1878 was re-elected to serve for six years, from No- vember, 1879. He fulfilled the duties of his position for his first term very creditably to himself, and to the gen- eral satisfaction of the community, as is evinced by the fact of his re-election. As a Judge he is conscientious

Um Heilman.

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and forbearing, an industrious worker, and his decisions and rulings have been almost uniformly correct, and, when appealed, have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the state. Though still a young man, he has already made a good reputation, both as a lawyer and jurist, among members of the bar who practice in his court, and is much esteemed and respected by the community in which he lives. In politics he is, and always has been, a Democrat.

SELLER, JACOB A., principal of the Evansville high school, was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1830. His father was a clergyman and a well-to- farmer, but not wealthy. His maternal grand- father was the first bishop of the United Brethren Church west of the Alleghany Mountains, and was noted for his fervor and zeal in the cause of religion. The bishop settled at an early day in Butler County, and reared a family of eleven children, nine of whom survive, and constitute, with their posterity, one of the most numerous and influential families of Southern Ohio. Jacob Zeller's ancestors were remarkable for longevity and sturdy character. His own parents were born in Pennsylvania, and he himself was reared on a farm and accustomed to hard labor. About thirty days of each year spared from work he spent at an old log school-house, where he acquired some knowledge of the rudiments of a common school education, and when but eighteen years of age was deemed by the neighbors and school directors amply qualified to take charge of his native district school, in place of an Irish pedagogue who had been dismissed in the middle of the term on account of his fiery disposition. In 1851 Mr. Zeller en- tered the preparatory department of the Miami Univer- sity, Oxford, Ohio, and graduated in a class of twenty- six, taking the degree of A. B. in the year 1856. In this class we note some prominent names, as Whitelaw Reid, of the New York Tribune; Professors Hutchinson and Rogers, of Monmouth University, Illinois, and others. Professor Zeller also read law, taught school two years, and graduated from the Cincinnati Law School. In 1858 he returned to his native county, intending to practice law, but was turned aside by the late Civil War. After this he was superintendent of the Oxford schools, Ohio, for seven years, when he was appointed principal of the Evansville high school, in which, for the last nine years, he has done much to raise the standard of excellence, and has given it the name it. so proudly bears throughout the state. Nine years ago (1870) he entered upon his duties under embarrassing circumstances. His predecessor was a man of ability and remarkable popularity, whose personal influence was sufficient to keep within bounds the disorderly ele-

[ ments that surrounded him, but his ill-health, and sub- sequent retirement from his duties in the middle of the school year, resulted in demoralization; and a reorgan- ization, with somewhat new methods of discipline, was found to be necessary. It was fully realized by the superintendent and board that whoever undertook this work would encounter a serious risk of failure; and Mr. Gow, then superintendent, undertook the selection of the new principal with deliberation and care. Those who are familiar with the history of the school since 1870 know to what extent he was successful, and agree that, when he found Professor Zeller, in Oxford, Ohio, and placed him in charge, he did honor to his own judgment and conferred a lasting benefit upon the city. Since his advent the school has enjoyed a reputation for discipline, thoroughness, and high character, second to none in the state, and all agree that these results are due to his efficiency. Professor Zeller, in 1871, grad- uated from the high school a class of nine pupils; he now (1879) has an enrollment of two hundred and eighty, and graduated a class of forty-five. These pu- pils are then admitted on their diplomas to the state university of Indiana. As a citizen Professor Zeller stands well in the community in which he lives. He is genial, affable, and courteous, and, although wedded to his profession, is one of the few that would not be picked out as a teacher simply by his demeanor. He takes a high standing in regard to his duties to his pro- fession, his country, and his God. His mind, devel- oped by a comprehensive culture, makes him one of the intellectually strong men of his city, and places him in a high rank in his profession.

EILMAN, WILLIAM, of Evansville, was born at Albig, in Rhenish Hesse, on the 11th of Octo- ber, 1824. His father, Valentine Heilman, died when William was a year and a half old; his mother then married Peter Weintz, and the family emi- grated to America, reaching New Orleans in 1843. They went to St. Louis, and shortly afterward removed to Indiana and settled in Posey County. William was now nineteen years old, and his first work in his new home was done on a farm, assisting his step-father. At that time all kinds of farm produce brought only a mere pit- tance, and as the work was hard William determined to seek a more profitable avocation. In 1847, with Chris- tian Kratz, his brother-in-law, an experienced hand in the foundry business, he formed a copartnership and started a small foundry and machine shop in Evansville. Their foundry, a rudely constructed frame building, was on Pine Street. Each partner possessed a blind horse, which supplied the motive power. At first they manu- factured dog-irons, stoves, plows, etc., and employed but

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six hands. In 1850 they built a brick shop, and, with an engine and boiler of their own make, carried on the business on a more extensive scale. In 1854 they manu- factured the first " portable steam-engine," and in 1859 their first thresher, patterned after the " Pitts machine." Their work now began to obtain great favor among the people, proving very effective and durable. Up to the beginning of the war the "City Foundry " was steadily on the increase, and orders came in from the whole country. During the war Mr. Heilman took a decided stand in favor of the Union, yet, nevertheless, the South patronized the foundry just as before, and indeed the firm was compelled to erect new buildings and employ more workmen to keep up with the demands of the trade. In 1864 Mr. Kratz withdrew, receiving for his interest one hundred thousand dollars. Since that time Mr. Heilman has conducted the business alone, and through his energy the buildings have grown into mas- sive proportions, now occupying nearly the whole block comprised within the space of First and Second, Pine and Ingle Streets. The present commodious salesroom was built in 1868, on the site of Mr. Heilman's former residence. He now lives in a very costly and beautiful mansion, situated on First Avenue, fronting on Iowa Street, with a park containing four acres. Not only as a business man does Mr. Heilman succeed, but he also takes rank with those who can be trusted in matters of great public importance. Notwithstanding the fact of his having been carrying on a business on an extensive scale, he found time to attend to public matters when- ever called upon. In 1852, as a citizens' candidate, he was elected councilman; he filled the office many times. From the time of its early inception Mr. Heilman has been a warm supporter of the Republican party. In 1870 his party friends elected him as a Representative to the state Legislature. In 1872 he was nominated for their Congressional candidate, and, although the district was two thousand and five hundred Democratic, he was only beaten one hundred and twelve votes. In 1874, a year fraught with disastrous defeats for the Repub- licans, he again had the satisfaction of reducing his op- ponent's majority to a very insignificant number of votes. In 1876 Mr. Heilman was elected from Vanderburg County as state Senator, and in 1878, whilst he was in Europe, the Republicans of the First Indiana Congres- sional District nominated him again as their standard- bearer. He accepted the honor thus tendered, returned after a short stay in his native land, and, entering into a vigorous and spirited canvass, was elected by a major- ity of nearly a thousand votes, the first Republican who had ever carried the district. His educational advan- tages were limited, as when young he was obliged to work on a farm. He never entered a school-house after he was thirteen and a half years old ; but by his indom- itable energy he has risen from a poor German boy, to

whose difficulties was added the want of knowledge of the very language of the people amongst whom he had determined to find his future home. He, rose, not by fortune, favor, or chance, but by his own persevering will, keen foresight, and prudent management of his business, to prominence as one of the most successful business men in the county. It is safe to assert that the enterprise and genius of Mr. Heilman have done more to advance and foster the commercial prosperity of the state of Indiana, and more particularly the city of Evansville, than any other man has been able to do for them. The cotton mill at Evansville, of which he is also president, owes its existence to his energy and sagacity in financial investments. It is one of the largest and most complete in the United States, manufactures daily twenty-five thousand yards of standard sheeting and drills, and consumes annually about seven thousand bales of cotton. Its capacity will soon be increased to forty thousand yards daily, and the quality of the goods fully equals the best made in this country and Europe. Ile also owns the controlling interest in the Gas Works, and is director of the Evansville National Bank, Evans- ville and Terre Haute and other railroads leading into Evansville. In 1848 Mr. Heilman married Miss Mary Jenner. Their union was blessed with nine children. When Mr. Heilman took his seat in Congress, during the extra session in 1879, he soon found an opportunity to show his sterling qualities as a business man. The preceding session had been taken taken up by the Dem- ocratic majority with fruitless efforts to manufacture political capital, and as a consequence they had neg- lected to provide the means to carry on the government. To avoid a standstill in that ponderous machinery which conducts the public business of the country, the Pres- ident was compelled to call an extra session of Congress, in order to obtain the necessary appropriation. But Congress had no sooner assembled than a torrent of new bills and proposed measures poured in upon it. Every member, almost, had some pet project to advo- cate and bring to a passage. Notable amongst them were the large number of financial measures, not a few of which had for their object the most unscrupulous use of the government's authority to increase its indebt- edness by means of paper money issued in unlimited quantities, or the unlimited coinage of an inferior de- preciated silver dollar. Mr. Heilman, however, had been an apt pupil in the practical school of life; as in private transactions, so he insisted in public place that honesty is always the best policy, and vigorously op- posed all measures that would have impaired the credit of the country, which was just then showing healthy signs of an increased confidence at home and abroad. His business training asserted itself especially in the remarks made by him upon the floor of the House of Representatives, pending the consideration of Mr. War-

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ner's coinage bill, which intended to permit the owners of silver in bullion to have it coined into standard dollars, by which process they would have been enriched to the amount of fifteen cents on every dollar, at the expense of the people, the standard dollar representing then but eighty-five cents in bullion. "By far the best " (said Mr. Heilman at the very outset) " that we can do for the good of the country at the present time and under existing circumstances is to do nothing but pass the appro- priation bills and go home." While others indulged in oratorical display, Mr. Heilman spoke like a plain, sim- ple business man for the true interests of the people. He wanted Congress to provide for the United States courts, the marshals and jurors, the diplomatic and con- sular service, the protection of its citizens and their rights and commercial interests at home and abroad, the administration of the government by the executive de- partments at Washington, and, having performed this duty imposed upon it by the Constitution, he wanted Congress to adjourn and let the individual members take care of their private business, just as he was anxious to do in his own case. Nevertheless, it need hardly be said that Mr. Heilman, at the same time, was not un- mindful of other needs of the country. Keen foresight and watchful study of public affairs had convinced him, however, that the success of the important measure of resumption, which had then stood the test of but a few

months, required nothing more than absolute non-inter- ference by Congress with the financial policy of the ad- ministration. He thus expressed these views in the course of his remarks above referred to:

" I am strongly in favor of practical, well-considered legislation to benefit the manufacturing and agricultural interests, to increase our commerce and our wealth; but by all means let us also have some stability, especially in our financial legislation. The condition of the coun- try is at last surely getting better, although it may be slowly, and what commerce and the finances want just now more than any thing else is to be let alone."

And then returning to the subject under consideration, like the trusty teller of a bank, whose experienced hand rejects the spurious coin at the very touch, he exclaimed, when closing his remarks amid general laughter and applause, "This bill is a cheat-nothing else." From these instances, and his splendid record as a member of the national legislature in other respects, his constitu- ents have now learned to look upon him as his fellow- members do, who consider him one of the best business legislators in the present Congress. He speaks seldom, but when he does every. word is to the point. His views are practical and his advice is sound. Command- ing the respect of all parties, his influence in and out of Congress has steadily increased at Washington, enabling him to render his constituents signal service where oth- ers before him would have failed.

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LBERT, JOHN C., capitalist, of Paoli, Indiana, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1818, and was the second son of Peter and Fannie (Breneman) Albert. His father was a farmer, and his ancestors on his mother's side were among the wealthy families of Pennsylvania. His par- ents removed to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1819, and while a lad he attended school a few terms. He has since acquired a fair English education by his own exer- tion. At the age of fourteen he was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father and the subse- quent marriage of his mother, and he apprenticed him- self to the tailor's trade, serving five years. When nine- teen years of age he removed West, and, settling at Paoli, opened a shop, which he carried on for five years. At the end of that time, owing to failing health, he was compelled to abandon this occupation, and began to deal in real estate. In this business he has since been engaged, extending his operations all over the West, and meeting with uniform success in all his transactions. In 1858 he commenced to build, and among his noted edifices was the Albert House, which was one of the best hotel buildings in the state. He erected many residences and improved others. In 1868 he made the Republican race for auditor, and was defeated by only forty votes, the county giving a usual Democratic ma- jority of six hundred. In 1864 he was appointed by President Lincoln as internal revenue collector of the First Indiana District, but was not confirmed by the Senate, owing to Democratic opposition. In February, 1870, he suffered the loss of his hotel by fire, the de- struction proving greatly detrimental to the town of Paoli. In 1853 he was elected treasurer of Orange County, and was re-elected in 1855 without opposition. In 1865 he was chosen cashier of the Bank of Paoli, a bank of issue and deposit, which position he held until its affairs were wound up in 1872. In politics he was for many years a Democrat, but in 1861 joined the Re-

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A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1038

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038