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 II, Part 103

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006

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 II > Part 103

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and lucrative. During part of the time Warren H. Withers was a member of the firm. In 1870 Mr. Wor- den was again elected Judge of the Supreme Court, and took his place on the bench January 1, 1871. In 1876 he was re-elected, and is now serving his third term.

KENT, COLONEL SAMUEL M., of Ligonier, was born in Stark County, Ohio, December 23, 1834- When four years old his parents removed to Rich- land County, Ohio. At the age of eighteen he went to Mansfield, and of Benjamin Blymier learned the trade of tin-smithing. In 1854 he emigrated to Roanoke, Indiana, to which place his parents had pre- ceded him. Shortly after, he went to work at his trade in Fort Wayne. He was married to Miss Price, of Roan- oke, in September, 1858. He lived at Fort Wayne at the breaking out of the Rebellion, and was the first man that enlisted in that place for the war. He was in active service in the 13th Indiana Infantry during the entire Rebellion, working his way unaided and alone from the position of private to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the storming of Fort Fisher, North Carolina, had conferred on him by the President of the United States the rank of colonel by brevet. He tendered his resignation April 28, 1865, while provost-marshal of Raleigh, North Carolina, since which time he has been quietly following the trade of his choice-tin-smithing. His present residence is at Roanoke, Indiana.

BOLLINGER, CHARLES, mayor of the city of Fort Wayne, was born in Wiesbaden, Nassau, Germany, in December, 1838. He is the second of seven sons, and attended school in Germany until he was ten years old, at which time he removed with his parents to the United States, and settled at Sandusky City, Ohio, where he attended school about nine months, when the cholera broke out, and the family removed to Fort Wayne, and settled on a new farm about eight miles from that place. Charles re- mained at home, working on the farm, until he was about seventeen years of age, and then, wishing to do something for himself, went to Wisconsin, where he worked for several parties as a laborer about two years. He then went to Missouri and wrought in the lead mines, in Newton County, about eighteen months, at the expiration of which time, on account of poor health, he went to Minnesota, and in Monticello, Wright County, began learning the blacksmith's trade. About twelve months later, after an absence of nearly five years, he returned to his home, and at the village of New Haven, Allen County, Indiana, finished learning

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the trade, and worked at it until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. When the call was made for seventy-five thousand troops, he was the first to en- list from that place. He told his employer that until the war was over he would not strike another blow, and accordingly, the 16th of April, 1861, enlisted for three months, and was assigned to Company E, of the 9th Indiana Regiment. In August he was mustered out, and, returning home, was in September elected first-lieutenant of Company D, 30th Indiana Regiment, which was the first regiment raised in that district. He served in that capacity for twenty-two months, and then resigned the position on account of disability, spent a few months at home, and, in answer to another call that was made, raised a company, being mustered in, March 8, 1863, as captain of Company B, of the 129th Indiana Regiment. The 20th of the same month he received a commission as lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment, which was in active duty from the time it left home. July I, following, he received the commission of col- onel of the regiment, which he had commanded from the first, on account of the colonel's continued ill- ness. Colonel Zollinger led his regiment, being twice in command of the brigade, until August, 1865, when, at the close of the war, he was mustered out of the service. He returned home and fol- lowed the blacksmith's trade until 1870. In the fall of that year he was elected sheriff of Allen County,

being an independent candidate. In 1872, at the expi- ration of his term of office, he devoted his time to the hat and cap business, which he had begun in Fort Wayne while sheriff, and which he carried on until 1873. In the spring of that year he was elected by the Democrats mayor of Fort Wayne, holding the office ever since, having been twice re-elected, and receiving no opposition either time. He was a member of the Re- publican party until 1872, and has since then been a Democrat. He is a Mason and member of the Com- mandery, in which he has been Captain-general. He is also an Odd-fellow, and has held the highest offices in that order. He was married, October 11, 1871, in Plym- outh, Michigan, to Miss Mary Kellogg, and now has a family of four daughters. Mr. Zollinger is a member of the English Lutheran Church, of Fort Wayne, and is one of its trustees. When in the army he was engaged in the battles of Murfreesboro and Shiloh, was with Sher- man during the Atlanta campaign, and took part in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and the last conflict of the Rebellion, which was fought at Kinston, North Carolina, and always was a good soldier and gallant of- ficer. By his friends and fellow-citizens he is held in much respect and esteem. While he fills the most im- portant office of the city of Fort Wayne with dignity, he also conducts its affairs in a most satisfactory man- ner, and is always the same even-tempered gentleman whether engaged in business or pleasure.

George Ames

THE

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LLEN, JOHNSON W., M. D., of Elkhart, was born in Addison County, Vermont, March 4, 1811. His father's name was Truman Allen, and his occupation that of a farmer. His mother's maiden name was Mary Rutherford. She was a lady of Irish ancestry, while his father was of English descent. Both parents lived to an advanced age, the mother dying in 1858 and the father in 1862. Johnson Allen, until eighteen years of age, passed his life on his father's farm in Western New York, on the Genesee River, to which section he had removed when the son was but three years old. Having attained his eighteenth year, he entered upon an academic course of study at the " Geneva High School," Geneva, New York, and, after sufficient preparation, commenced the study of medicine in 1831, at the " Military and Marine Hospital, Toronto, Canada." There he continued until 1835, at which time he removed to Fredericktown, Knox County, Ohio, where he first engaged in medical practice. His success may be judged from the fact that he remained at Fred- ericktown thirteen successive years, during which time he carried on a very large business. In July, 1848, he removed to Elkhart, Indiana, where he has since con- tinued the practice of his profession. As a surgeon, Doctor Allen has always ranked high, owing to his su- perior skill and knowledge. He is the oldest resident physician of Elkhart Center, and enjoys the confidence of the inhabitants in the surrounding country. Since the building of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, in 1852, he has been the road surgeon; and since 1869, when it became customary to appoint sur- geons, he has been appointed annually. He is a member of the leading medical societies and associations of the country, including the state society of Indiana. Previ- ous to the Civil War he was brigade surgeon of the Indiana state militia, but his age then rendered him unfit for constant field duty. Governor Morton appointed him surgeon at large, to care for Indiana soldiers, which F-I

appointment he retained during the entire war. Doctor Allen is a strong Republican. Although a party worker, he is not a politician nor an office-seeker. He is not a member of any secret order nor of any religious denom- ination, but favors and upholds the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church. He married, in 1837, Miss Eme- line E. Strong, a native of Maryland. From this union he had one son, Willard P. Allen, now living in Texas. Doctor Allen lost his wife during the year 1854; in 1858 he married Miss Myra B. Seaman, a very estimable lady, a native of Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Al- though now sixty-nine years of age, Doctor Allen is erect and well preserved. He is of fine personal appearance, and his intelligent countenance expresses character and determination.

MES, GEORGE, president of the First National Bank of Michigan City, Indiana, was born at . Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, in January, 1804. His father was Abial Ames, a captain in the Massachusetts state militia; his mother, Alice Wetherell, was a descendant of Per- igrine White, who was the first white child born in the state of Massachusetts. George Ames, the sub- ject of this sketch, is a self-educated man, having had but few school advantages. His first employment on leaving home was in the Ames Shovel Factory, in North Easton, Massachusetts. From 1831 to 1834 he engaged in the same business in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His health failing, he went to the coast of Labrador, and Newfoundland, remaining a short time. In the fall of 1834, he re- moved to Indiana and established himself in Michigan City, where he bought property and contracted for buildings. In 1835 he made the journey from Michigan City to Washington, D. C., on horseback, starting on the Ist of January, and passing twenty-seven days on

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the road. He brought back from the East forty tons of | history of his city, with whose interests he has been general merchandise, and engaged in a general mercan- prominently identified. Such is the record of one of the oldest settlers in the northern part of Indiana, and one of its most prominent citizens. tile business for one and a half years, when he sold out. He then, in connection with Mr. Holliday, purchased a drug-store, the firm name being Ames & Holliday. They did quite an extensive wholesale and retail busi- ness from 1837 to 1873, when, having acquired a hand- some fortune, Mr. Ames retired from mercantile life. He is now president of the First National Bank, and was for twelve years a director in the old State Bank. In 1849 Mr. Ames married Elizabeth Barker, daughter of Hon. Stephen Barker, of Andover, Massachusetts. In 1850 he was elected mayor of the city ; he has been a member of the common council for a number of years, and also township trustee. Always an active and prom- inent public man, he took a leading part in the building of the harbor and the planking of the streets, contribut- ing both time and money. Having no children, Mr. Ames has devoted his means to the benefit of his city, notably in decorating, in a most beautiful manner, the grounds surrounding the school-house. That his disin- terested kindness in this respect has been fully appre- ciated is evidenced by the following extract from the annual report of the school board for 1877-78 :

"The improvement of the school premises, com- menced five years ago by our fellow-citizen, George Ames, Esq., has ever since received his personal care and supervision. He has placed the community under additional and lasting obligations of gratitude to him for his annual contributions of trees and shrubbery to still further beautify the grounds. We know the people of our city appreciate his generosity, and will hold in grateful remembrance the efforts he has made to minister to the comfort and happiness of their children."

Then follows in detail a statement of the trees and shrubs-in number over three thousand-all of which were contributed at his personal expense. He is, pre- eminently, the friend of the children, being well known among them, and looked upon as a benefactor and foster-father. One of his greatest treasures is a beautiful gold-headed cane, bearing the inscription, "To George Ames, from the children of the public schools of Michi- gan City, June 27, 1879." No less than one thousand children subscribed to it, as a token of their esteem. He often laughs and says he has so many children he does not know them all. In religion he is a Unitarian, in politics a Republican. Twenty-four years ago he had the misfortune to break a limb; amputation was neces- sary, and a short time after a still further amputation of the same limb was required, confining him to his room for a whole year, and rendering his recovery for a long time doubtful. Although now well advanced in years, his mind retains much of its early vigor. Shrewd, positive, and correct in his ideas, he is eminently a progressive man ; and, withal, a pleasant one, both in manners and conversation. He is well versed in the

NDREW, DR. GEORGE L., of Laporte, Indiana, was born in Hamilton, Ohio, July 18, 1822. His ancestors were Scotch Presbyterians. He pre- pared for college in the grammar school at Oxford, Ohio, and in 1837 entered the Miami Univer- sity, which then undoubtedly stood at the head of the institutions of learning west of the Alleghanies. He was graduated in August, 1841, and four years later re- ceived the degree of A. M. from his Alma Mater. He studied medicine in Hamilton, with Dr. D. L. Rigdon; received the degree of M. D. from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845, and in November following commenced the practice of medicine at La- porte, Indiana. He spent the winters of 1849-50 and 1850-51 in New York in medical study and observation, and a portion of the time held the position of senior assistant physician in Bellevue Hospital. At an early period of the late Civil War the United States Sanitary Commission was appointed by the Secretary of War, with the approval of President Lincoln. It was " charged with the duty of investigating the best means of systematizing and reducing to practical service the already active, but undirected, benevolence of the people towards the army; of considering the general subject of the prevention of sickness and suffering among the troops, and of suggesting the wisest methods which the people at large could use to manifest their good will toward the comfort, security, and health of the army." Dr. Andrew was requested by the Com- mission to assist in a careful and systematic inspection of the Army of the Potomac; and, in September, 1861, he thus became identified with the work of that noble institution, which was destined to become so potent an influence for good. He twice resigned his commission as Sanitary Inspector, only to be twice recalled into the service ; but he was finally enabled, by the close of the war, in 1865, to resume the regular practice of his profession in Laporte. During the eventful years of the war he occupied many responsible and laborious positions in the service. His official duties carried him into every slave state except Texas and North Carolina. Doctor Andrew is at present United States examining surgeon for pensions, a member of the American Medical Association, of the American Public Health Associa- tion, of the Indiana State, Laporte County, and St. Joseph Valley District Medical Societies. He is also medical examiner for several life insurance companies, prominent among which are the Mutual Benefit, of

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Newark, New Jersey; the Equitable, the New York | he retired from the legal profession. From 1856 to 1876, Life, the Mutual Life, of New York ; and the Con- necticut Mutual, of Hartford. Doctor Andrew married. in 1845. Of his six children, three-one son and two daughters-are still living. In politics Doctor Andrew is a Republican. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

NDREW, JUDGE WILLIAM, minister, lawyer, and physician, of Laporte, Indiana, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 23, 1809; and is the son of James and Catharine (Piatt) Andrew. ; He attended the common schools, and afterward studied under the instruction of his brother, Doctor J. P. An- drew. Remaining on his father's farm until he was nineteen, he then taught school in Cincinnati for about two years. During the second year he commenced reading law under the instruction of Judge Bellamy Storer, and in the fall of 1830 entered his office as a student and remained until the spring of 1832. He then entered Transylvania University, remaining until fall, when he passed the final examination, and was ad- mitted to practice in the courts of Kentucky. He went to Cincinnati; but, instead of settling to the practice of law, concluded to study for the ministry, which had always been the profession of his choice. Accordingly, he started for New York, where he joined the Rev. Mr. Lane, of the Christian Church, and, proceeding with him to New Jersey, commenced study. In the fall of 1833 he was ordained a minister of the Christian Church, and immediately entered upon his work at Campton, near Newark, New Jersey. In 1835 he accepted a call from the Church at Salem, Massachusetts, where he re- mained two years. In 1837 he returned West by way of Philadelphia-where he purchased a law library-and arrived in Laporte August 16. Here he was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of law in the courts of Indiana, still continuing the work of minister. In 1845 he was elected Associate Judge under the old Constitution, and held the position six years. While yet on the bench he began the study of medicine in the Medical College of Indiana, from which he graduated in 1851. He immediately commenced the practice of med- icine; and in this, as in his other professions, he has been successful. After spending the year 1852 in Cal- ifornia he resumed his ministerial and medical labors in Laporte, and continued them until 1854, when failing health forced him to give up his work as a physician. That year he entered into partnership with John H. Arm- strong in the lumber and grocery business ; two years later he purchased his partner's interest, and carried on the business alone for a short time. In 1858 he returned to the practice of law, which he continued with good success until 1874, when, on account of failing health,

he worked earnestly in every presidential campaign. He was elected prosecuting attorney for his district in 1860, and served eight years. In 1863 he was appointed one of the agents of the United States Sanitary Commission, and served until the close of the war. He was one of the trustees of the Laporte University, and held the professorship of law in that institution two years. Some of the leading lawyers in the country were his students. During all his service as attorney and judge he did not relinquish his ministerial duties. Judge Andrew married, May 3, 1835, Miss Jane Kent, of New York. They had four children, two of whom died previous to the death of their mother, and two later. One grandson survives. November 28, 1861, Judge Andrew married Miss Harriet Ross, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

AKER, JOHN H., of Goshen, Indiana, was born in Parma Township, New York, January 28, 1832. At an early age he removed with his parents to Ohio, and settled in what is now Ful- ton County, where, until he was nearly twenty-one, he assisted his father in such labor as is incident to pioneer life. His education while at home was limited to the brief winter terms of a country school in a sparsely settled district. He afterwards taught school, and took a two years' college course at Delaware, Ohio. He studied law at Adrian, Michigan; was admitted to the bar, and, in 1857, commenced practice at Goshen, In- diana, where he has since remained in active practice. He was elected to the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses, and was re-elected to the Forty-sixth, re- ceiving eighteen thousand four hundred and eighty-one votes, against sixteen thousand two hundred and sev- enty-three cast for Stoll, Democratic candidate.

ALDWIN, SILAS, vice-president of the First Na- tional Bank of Elkhart, was born September 23, 1811, in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey. His parents were David S. and Elizabeth (Kent) Baldwin. His maternal grandfather was a soldier in the American Revolution. Mr. Silas Baldwin received very little schooling, having gained his education by home study and a practical business life. About the year 1821 he removed with his father to Warren County, Ohio, where he worked as a laborer. In 1831 he re- moved to Edwardsburg, Cass County, Michigan, where he gained his living in the same manner until 1836, when he began to sell goods as clerk for P. P. Mail- lard. In 1842 he took a stock of goods for Mr. Mail- lard to Elkhart, Indiana; and two years later bought

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out his employer's store in Elkhart, giving his notes in payment for the property thus acquired. He continued the business there very successfully until 1856, when, owing to failing health, he was obliged to sell out and retire. About 1860 he again engaged in business in the Bank of Elkhart, acting as its cashier until it was merged into the First National Bank, which Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Philo Morehous organized in 1863. Mr. Baldwin was cashier of the National Bank until 1867, when his health obliged him to resign, and once more retire from active business. Since that time he has been a stock- holder and director of the bank, and is now its vice- president. He was a member of the Democratic party until 1861, since which time he has acted with the Re- publicans. He was very active during the construction of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad in securing its passage through Elkhart instead of Goshen. There is nothing which so improves the value of an in- terior town as the completeness and fullness of its rail- way accommodations. It is a necessity for the husband- man to get his produce to market and for the merchant to get his supplies from distant points. About the same time he was nominated by the Democrats of the county to represent them in the state Legislature; but, owing to his activity concerning the railroad question, he was defeated, as were the other candidates from Elk- hart. Many years ago he was clerk of the township; and in 1844 was surprised by receiving the appointment of postmaster of Elkhart. This was entirely unsolicited, and he is still ignorant as to whom he is indebted for the honor. In 1848 he resigned the office, as he had not time or health to attend to its duties. In 1837 he married, in Edwardsburg, Cass County, Michigan, Miss Jane Gephart. They have reared three children, one son and two daughters. The son, Frank J., when only eighteen years of age, was killed at the battle of Stone River, being at the time a lieutenant in the Union army. The nation owes a great debt to those who went out in the hour of its peril to battle for it. There were thousands upon thousands of young lives lost in the ef- fort to maintain the honor of their country's flag, and to prevent the designs of traitors from becoming suc- cessful. Of the two daughters, one is living-Elizabeth F., the wife of A. R. Beardsley, secretary of the Elk- hart Starch Company. The other daughter, Helen, the wife of Colonel J. W. Shaffer, died in Evansville, Indiana, while visiting her husband, an officer in the Federal army, stationed at that place for a short time as mustering-out officer. Mr. Baldwin is highly es- teemed by the citizens of his place, and is an example of an upright, industrious, and painstaking man, whose aims in life have been successful, and who has nothing to reproach himself with. His abilities are good, and he has been desirous to use them to their utmost for the good of the community.

ARBOUR, OLIVER P., M. D., physician and sur- geon, of South Bend, Indiana, was born, October 25, 1825, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Doctor C. Veneble Barbour, died in 1832, after an illness of several years. His father's financial resources being much crippled by this long sickness, he, the son, was obliged to leave school when only twelve years of age. He obtained employment in the pharmacy of Doctor Peck, at Apothecaries' Hall, in Cincinnati, but his health soon became so impaired by close application that he was compelled to relinquish his situation. At the age of fifteen he entered the office of Judge Edward Wood- ruff as a law student. Shortly after he was elected a member of a literary society, which held its sessions in Kinmon's Academy. Some of the members of this as- sociation afterwards became prominent, among whom were Don Piatt and Samuel Wilson, D. D. As his health did not improve he was compelled to discontinue his law studies, and, through the kindness of Elijah Slack, who was at that time professor of chemistry in the Ohio Medical College, he received a position as teacher in Carey's Academy. He was, however, pre- vented from entering upon his duties by sickness in his mother's family and the death of his sister. Soon after he took charge of a school at Mt. Healthy, giving gen- eral satisfaction. While connected with this school he commenced the study of medicine with Doctor P. G. Fore. He was afterwards engaged by Thomas H. Yeat- man and William Bickham to take charge of a private school near Riverside. He taught until 1844, when he returned to Cincinnati to attend his first course of med- ical lectures. In 1845 he resumed his studies, devoting some time to practice, and conducted an academy for boys and girls. In the spring of 1848 he connected himself with a Western publishing house, publishing a history of Kentucky, a work which was issued under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institute. While in this position he made a tour of the South, visiting nearly every congressional district in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Western Alabama, Middle Tennessee, and Kentucky; and returned to the city of Cincinnati in 1849, much improved in health. In 1850 he established a drug-store in Cincinnati, one in Fulton, and one in Covington, Kentucky. He then removed to Covington, and gave attention to private practice. In the spring of 1855 he was elected a member of the Cincinnati Col- lege of Pharmacy. He attended the spring and winter sessions of medical lectures in 1855-56, and graduated in the spring of 1857 from Miami College. In January of that year he sold out his drug-store and devoted his time exclusively to his practice. In 1858 he received the degree of M. D. from the Ohio Medical College. In 1859 he removed to Kansas and settled in Leaven- worth City, where, in April, in connection with H. J. Adams, mayor of Leavenworth; J. M. Walden, editor

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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 II, Part 103

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1006

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1006