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 60
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of Yale College. He paid special attention to mathe- UNT, FRANKLIN W., merchant and pioneer, of Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana, was born Feb- ruary 6, 1817, in Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire. His early educational advantages were very limited, attending only the country district school, irregularly, until the age of fifteen. During this period his time, when out of school, was spent at farm labor under the direction of his guardian, his parents, Moses F. and Martha Hunt, having died when he was a small boy. At the age of fifteen he went into the employment of a merchant in Lancaster, as clerk, con- tinuing there until he arrived to the age of twenty, at which time he went West in search of a good business -location. His early inclinations were for agricultural pursuits ; but circumstances seemed to lead him in the way of a mercantile business. Leaving his employer in 1837, he wandered and prospected until 1840, without deciding on any place to locate; and returned to Coos County, New Hampshire, where he remained as a sales- man for three years. In 1843 he again migrated west- ward, and finally located in Valparaiso. He soon ob- tained employment as clerk and bookkeeper in a store, which situation he held two years. In 1846 he opened a store of general supplies on his own account. The next year he sold one-half of his business to his brother Hubbard, the business being continued under the firm name of F. W. & H. Hunt, until 1857, when he bought his brother's interest, continuing affairs under his own name. By degrees he dropped the groceries, hardware, etc., from his stock, and confined his trade to that of a general dry-goods store. He also manages a farm, just outside the city limits, on which he resides. His busi- ness undertakings have been financially successful, and he is to-day what the world calls a wealthy man. In politics he is a Democrat, but not a professed politician. He is a prominent business man in the community, and noted for his fair dealing with his fellow-men ; socially, he is highly esteemed by his neighbors and friends. He was married, November 3, 1851, to Miss Mary J. Ross, of Buchanan, Michigan, who died January 6, 1854, leav- ing one daughter, who was born September IS, 1852, and died September 17, 1878. He was again married, September 18, 1861, to Miss Catherine Hall, of Lam- matics and the languages, and learned to read and write Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and German. He taught in Rush, Carroll, and Cass Counties. From 1855 to 1867 he was county school examiner and superintendent, teacher of classical and scientific courses in Logansport high school, and city engineer. He had full charge of all the city improvements, and gave his scholars at the high school opportunities of gaining a practical knowl- edge of surveying and civil engineering. The present efficient school system of his county is due to his able management. During 1866 and 1867 he became the first superintendent of the Logansport city schools. The present ward schools were erected at that time. As a civil engineer Mr. Helm has few superiors. In 1846 he was a member of the corps that surveyed the "Great Miami Reserve," which included parts of Cass, Tipton, Howard, and Miami Counties. He is invariably called upon to settle all intricate questions pertaining to early surveys. He is a member of the Universalist Church, and united with the Masonic Order in 1852. He is now an honored member of Tipton Lodge, No. 33, Logan Royal Arch Chapter, No. 2, and Logansport Council, No. 11, Royal and Select Masters, of Logansport. September 20, 1849, he married Elizabeth J. House. She died in Sep- tember, 1854, and left one son, Henry C. January 2, 1859, Mr. Helm married his present wife, Katherine Prosser. In 1871 he was appointed Probate Judge of Cass County, a position he continues to discharge with credit. Judge Helm has always preferred books and knowledge to the accumulation of dollars and cents. He is still a close student, and spends much time in his library, which contains more than three thousand volumes, pertaining to ancient and modern languages, mathematics, Masonry, and miscellaneous topics. Not a novel has a place in his collection. Judge Helm has been a contributor to the press, in the way of local history and biography, for many years. He has much valuable information pertaining to the general history of the Wabash Val- ley, and the personal history of citizens of Cass, Carroll, Tippecanoe, and other counties, which he is engaged in preparing for the press. This, when completed, will make an interesting and valuable work for future refer- ence in regard to the history of those counties and their , bertville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She died prominent residents. Recently, an elaborate history of February 16, 1877. Allen County, Indiana, written by him, has been pub -; lished. It is a source of serious regret that so little attention has hitherto been paid to gathering memorials of the past, from which alone we can learn what the . trials and hardships of our fathers were. Judge Helm is rather below the average height. His studious hab- : its are beginning to have their effect on his once vigorous constitution. Though reserved in manner, he is genial, and as a neighbor and citizen he is highly esteemed.
UNT, HUBBARD, a pioneer of Valparaiso, was born January 18, 1821, at Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire. His parents, Moses F. and Martha Hunt, were natives of New England. The former was born in 1787, the latter in 1798. They died when he was but five years of age, and he was placed under the care of a guardian, who was a farmer by oc-
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cupation. When not in school, Hubbard was engaged | cisco in a cholera-infected ship. From this, however, in farm-work, assisting in whatever he was able to do. he suffered no inconvenience, and, on the whole, the trip proved temporarily beneficial. In 1856 he sold out to his brother his interest in the store. He next pur- chased a drove of cattle for the Iowa market, which he disposed of in that state, and, returning to Valparaiso, opened a hardware establishment, which he kept until 1863. Two years later he engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber in connection with Barrett & Kellogg Brothers. In this he continued until 1874. In 1872 he formed a company under the firm name of White, Hunt & Co., for dressing and selling pine lumber-a business connection he still maintains. The financial manage- ment of affairs was almost entirely left to him, to which its subsequent success can be largely attributed: Mr. Hunt has acted, by request, as administrator, guardian, and assignee of several estates in and about Valparaiso. His qualities as a business man are of the very highest. He is greatly respected by his neighbors as a high- minded, exemplary citizen. All his enterprises have been successful, and as a consequence he has a comfort- able competency. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, but not an active politician. He was married, May 9, 1851, to Miss Finnette M. Dunning, who is now living. She is the third child and only daughter of John Dunning, of Valparaiso. He was a frail child from birth, and found the hard labor of the farm very severe on him, considering his strength. At the age of seventeen his guardian allowed him the time necessary to earn a sufficient sum of money to pay his tuition in the Lancaster Academy for three months in each year. It was procured by selling the skins of animals which he had shot and trapped for that purpose. This privilege was given for three suc- cessive years, and the time was well improved by him. The country around Lancaster is wild and rocky, and abounded at that time in game. The valley of Is- rael's River, which leads up to the White Mountains, even yet affords some. IIis leisure moments were em- ployed in farm-work; but, his physical condition not improving, he was of little value. During this period he was treated with marked consideration and kindness by his guardian, especially in times of sickness, which happened yearly. In 1841 he was given his time, and began teaching a district school. This he carried on for three months at a salary of ten dollars per month ; and out of this money he contrived to save enough to give back to his guardian the value of a suit of clothes he had purchased for Mr. Hunt to begin teaching in. The same year he engaged as an apprentice for four years with the Fairbanks Scale Company, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, he served the same company as a journeyman for three years longer, winning for himself the confidence and esteem of his employers to such an extent that they made him flattering business offers in connection with their business, which he was prevented from accepting by previous engagements. In June, 1847, he came to Valparaiso, where his brother, F. W. Hunt, was estab- lished in trade as a general mercantile dealer. He purchased a half interest in this business, retaining his connection until 1856. In the beginning of 1849, thinking to improve his health, he planned a trip to the tropics. He proceeded to Panama, and thence to Peru, arriving at Callao March 25, where he remained ten days, when, with ninety-nine other men, he chartered the whaling vessel " Massachusetts," for the sum of ten thousand dollars, to take them to San Francisco, Cali- fornia. They entered the Golden Gate June 20, 1849. Almost penniless, he engaged in odd jobs until he could get together a few dollars, when he left for the mines. Gold speculation was at its height, and fortunes were sometimes made in a few hours. On his arrival he be- gan placer mining with a rude rocker, made by splitting a log in the center, and chopping out the flat side for a receiver. At the end of six weeks he was compelled to abandon a miner's life on account of the hardships. He remained in California about eighteen months, when he returned to Valparaiso. He sailed from San Fran-
OHNSON, ISRAEL, late of Logansport, Indiana, was one of the early settlers of the great Wabash Valley. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, March 6, 1803. About the year 1820 he went to Richmond, Indiana; and in 1827 re- moved to a permanent settlement at Logansport, where for thirty-seven years he was actively engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. He assisted largely in the organization and development of Cass County, and its county-seat, Logansport. He built the first two-story house in that city. He was a member of the board of councilmen of Logansport; but with this exception he never, although urgently solicited to accept of office, allowed his name to go before the public as a candidate. He was a Whig, and during the existence of that party he labored earnestly for the promotion of its principles. He was an honored Freemason. In his social and busi- ness relations he was held in high esteem. He married, December 19, 1822, Mary Amelia Hamilton. Five of their children are still living: William Hamilton, of Logansport; Peter Baker, of Dayton, Ohio; George Franklin, of New York City; Israel Greene, of San Francisco, California ; and Jennie M., now Mrs. Maurice Winfield, of Logansport. His death occurred June 7, 1866, when he had reached the age of sixty-three. His widow still resides at Logansport.
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OHNSON, WILLIAM H., of Logansport, Indi- hundred and twenty thousand pounds. Mr. Johnson is ana, was born at Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, September 19, 1823. His parents were Israel and Mary Hamilton Johnson, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia, who emigrated to Indiana at an early day in the history of the state. Israel John- son settled with his family in Logansport in 1829, be- fore the organization of Cass County. Mr. Johnson
the president of the Logansport National Bank. He gives his allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party ; but he is not a politician, and never permits his name to be used as a candidate for office. He prefers the more humble sphere of private citizenship. In De- cember, 1851, he was married to Sarah, daughter of | John Lytle, a physician of considerable prominence, acquired in the common schools a sufficient knowledge | formerly of Baltimore, Maryland. They have four chil- of the branches essential to a general business education dren living, one son and three daughters; the son has now the chief management of the book-keeping depart- ment of his extensive business. Mr. Johnson is of av- erage height and fair proportions. His manners are quiet and unobtrusive. In his social and business rela- tions he possesses the confidence and esteem of the en- tire community. to qualify him for his contemplated field of labor. Early in life he had imbibed a desire for commercial life, and concentrated his energies in that direction. In 1841, when he was eighteen years old, his father, who was extensively engaged in the general grocery business, gave him a position in his store, to gratify his youthful ambition, and to instruct him in the practical details of trade. At the age of twenty-one he was ten- dered a partnership with his father, which he accepted. USTICE, DR. JAMES MADISON, of Logansport, was born in Fayette County, Indiana, September 21, 1817. He was the second son of Joseph and Delilah (Juel) Justice. His grandfather, James Justice, fought in some of the most sanguinary battles of the Revolution, and was with Washington at Valley Forge. After the close of the war he settled in Penn- sylvania, where his third son, Joseph, was born. In the year ISIo he went with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio. His son Joseph, the following year, located a land- claim in the Whitewater Valley, two miles south-west of where Connersville now stands. The Indians at that time, incited by British agents, were often very trouble- some to the settlers, and the block-house of the pioneers was often their most effective protection. In the war of 1812 Mr. Justice and his friends were compelled to go to Cincinnati, and remain until the successes of the American arms made it safe to return. After his mar- riage, in IS15, he permanently located in the White- water Valley, and hewed a farm out of the forest. His son James was born in the second year of this frontier life. Amid the active labors of the farm he received a fine physical training, and such mental culture as was attainable in the log-cabin school-house three months of the year. His religious instruction was all that Christian parents with but few privileges and books could give. James M. Justice was sent to the county seminary at Connersville when he was twenty years of age. There he acquired a fair English education and the friendship of Samuel W. Parker and Caleb B. Smith, young men whose lives were afterward closely identified with the growth and political history of South-eastern Indiana. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Jef- ferson Helm, then an eminent physician of Rush County, and was licensed to practice by the Whitewater Medical Association in 1840. The young Doctor followed the tide of emigration to North-western Indiana, and with The business of the new firm rapidly increased, and fa- cilities were enlarged to meet the growing demands of the trade. In 1846 they began to handle large quanti- ties of pork, which by judicious management was made · to pay a satisfactory profit on the labor and capital . used, and offered inducements for future investments. These successes continued to be realized from year to year; new resources were developed, and enlarged cap- ital evolved. A year later Peter B. Johnson, the next younger brother, was added to the firm, and a dry- goods branch was opened. The grocery and pork busi- ness was conducted under the firm name of Israel John- son & Sons, and the dry goods as P. B. Johnson & Co. An additional line of trade was opened in 1848, and they then began to deal extensively in the grain products of the country. To meet the demands of this new ele- ment of traffic, a large warehouse was built on the mar- gin of the Wabash and Erie Canal, then the only ave- nue of transportation. The dry-goods branch was dis- continued in 1862, and the joint capital was merged in other branches of trade. Among these was a milling interest, which was made a specialty in connection with W. B. Dix ; the business was conducted under the old firm name of Israel Johnson & Sons. The withdrawal of the brother in 1865, and the death of his father the follow- ing year, left the entire business in the hands of William H. Johnson. He disposed of his interest in the grocery, and gave his attention more exclusively to grain and pork. Besides handling several thousands of hogs an- nually, he buys and ships large quantities of wheat, corn, oats, rye, clover-seed, and flax. The finer quality of his clover-seed is made an article of export for Europe. His wool trade, in connection with Tanguy & Barnheisel, who buy and ship the article in large quantities, is another important element in the business. The shipments in 1875 alone aggregated more than one
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no capital but a fair knowledge of his profession, a good | ated in 1871 from Glendale Female College; Frank constitution, and determined energy, he settled in Car- Leroy graduated in 1876 at Dartmouth College. His sons are both studying law at Logansport. roll County, in Camden, a village of less than a dozen cabins. A surgical case was brought to him on the day of his arrival, which afforded him the means of support for several weeks, and brought him into favorable no- tice. He soon acquired a lucrative practice in the coun- ties of Carroll, Cass, Howard, and Clinton. In Decem- ber, IS41, he married Zenith A. Norris, only daughter of Captain Benjamin Norris, of Rush County. Her active sympathy in her husband's professional career has greatly strengthened his hands. In 1847-48 he attended the Ohio Medical College, and graduated with the degree of doctor of medicine. At Camden he accumulated, by economy and industry, a large property. In 1859, desirous of giving his children better educational facili- ties, he moved to Connersville, and entered into practice with his brother-in-law, Dr. Gregg. Dr. Justice has always been deeply interested in political matters. In 1840 he was an active supporter of General Harrison, and in 1844 he was zealous in the cause of Henry Clay. In 1860 he canvassed a large portion of South-eastern Indiana for Abraham Lincoln; and subsequently, at the urgent solicitation of a warm personal friend, the Hon. D. D. Pratt, he removed to Logansport, where he now resides, earnestly forwarding its growth and prosperity. His medical practice extends throughout the counties of Pulaski, Howard, Miami, Cass, Carroll, White, Fulton, and Stark. He has always been a warm ad- vocate of anti-slavery principles-first as a Whig, and afterward as a Republican. He was active in the sup- port of the government in suppressing the Rebellion, and freely aided with his money and influence in the enlistment of volunteers and forwarding of supplies. He was commissioned as surgeon of the Hoth Indi- ana Volunteers by Governor Morton, during the in- vasion of Indiana by Morgan. In 1864 he was a del- egate to the Baltimore Convention from the Ninth Con- gressional District. The same year he was commissioned as pension surgeon by President Lincoln, which position he still holds. He was presidential elector in 1868 from the Eighth District, and tanvassed the state that year for Grant and Colfax. Dr. Justice is noted for his liberal contributions to all public and private charities. The Doctor and his wife have been consistent members of the Christian Church for many years. As a public speaker he is forcible and eloquent. Though sixty years old, he enjoys superb health, and is engaged in superin- tending three large farms, in addition to his active pro- fesional work. In personal appearance he is tall and erect, and weighs two hundred pounds. As a citizen and neighbor he is highly esteemed. He has three living children. His oldest son, Dewitt Clinton, is a graduate of the Literary and Law Departments of the University of Michigan ; his daughter, Priscilla, gradu-
AHLO, CHARLES, of Logansport, Indiana, was born near Berlin, Prussia, July 4, 1840. His par- ents, Henry and Dora Kahlo, belonged to that large class of Germans who were forced to leave their country on account of the troubles of 1848. His father was a merchant tailor, and was a man of good education and a writer of considerable prominence. Mrs. Kahlo was a woman of high intellectual culture. Her father was for a number of years at the head of the Sapp's High School, in Prussia. Henry Kahlo came to America with his family in 1850, and went directly to Defiance, Ohio. There he organized a German colony, buying a piece of land and laying it out in town lots, from which he realized a moderate profit. He died in 1853. His son Charles, then thirteen years old, com- menced working on a farm for twenty-five cents a day. Afterwards he drove a team for nine months for one of the contractors of the Wabash Railroad. He was next em- . ployed in M. E. F. Lindenberger's dry-goods store, at Defiance, Ohio, where he commenced with a salary of five dollars per month. He remained seven years, and was promoted to the position of head salesman. During this time half of his earnings were given to the support of his mother and her other children. When President Lincoln called for seventy - five thousand three months' men to aid in suppressing the Rebellion in the Southern States Mr. Kahlo was among the first to enlist. Although the youngest man in the company, he was elected second lieutenant of Captain Sprague's company of the 14th Ohio Regiment. At the expiration of three months he joined the army as first lieutenant of Company G, 38th Regiment Ohio Infantry, and was detailed as aid-de- camp to General Miller, of the Western army, under General George H. Thomas. At the end of five years he resigned, and engaged in the mercantile business at Napoleon, Ohio. He disposed of his interest, January 1, 1866, at Napoleon, and became one of the firm of Kahlo, Brother & Crow, at Defiance, manufacturers of wagon and carriage material. Two years later this firm was merged in the Defiance Manufacturing Com- pany, of which Mr. Kahlo became secretary. He re- moved to Logansport, Indiana, January 1, 1870, to take charge of a branch factory at that place. He soon after sold out his share at Defiance, and transferred his cap- ital to the branch at Logansport, which, under the name of Kahlo, Von Behren & Co., transacted a profitable ¡ business. In 1873 Mr. Kahlo persuaded some lead- ing citizens in Logansport to take stock, and the firm was changed into a stock company, called the Logans-
CHARLES KAHLO .
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port Manufacturing Company, with a cash capital of fifty five thousand dollars, of which he was president and general manager. January 1, 1877, Mr. Kahlo leased the entire property, and formed a partnership with Colonel T. H. Brinkhurst and Wm. H. Von Beh- ren. The firm of Charles Kahlo & Co. now extend their shipments from Maine to California, and export large amounts of their finer work to Europe and Aus- tralia. Mr. Kahlo, from the first, has had exclusive charge of the business. From one hundred to one hun- dred and twenty men were regularly employed in 1876, and over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars were expended for labor and material. Mr. Kahlo is an hon- ored member of the Odd-fellows and Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Broadway Presbyterian Church, and contributes liberally for the support of the Gospel ministry and for the aid of suffering mankind. June 17, 1863, he married Cornelia, daughter of Dr. J. Colby, a pioneer physician of Defiance, Ohio. They have four children living. In politics he has always been Republi- can. In June, 1878, he was nominated unanimously, and in October was elected, State Senator from Cass and Carroll Counties-the first Republican elected from that Democratic district. In 1880 his friends urged him to make the race for Congress, but, as he had no political aspirations, he declined accepting any official position offered him, save a place on the State Central Executive Committee. Mr. Kahlo is favorably known as a man of energy, prudence, and integrity. Although very deter- mined, he is genial, and has drawn around him many warm friends.
politics he is a Republican, which he has always been. He has been an Odd-fellow since 1865, has taken all the degrees, both subordinate and encampment, and is a member of both the subordinate and the grand lodge. He is a member of the Methodist Church. He was married, May 2, 1866, to Mary A. Clark, daughter of Osborn Clark, carriage manufacturer, of Frankfort, In- diana.
ADDOCK, WILLIAM B., journalist, Fowler, Benton County, was born July I, 1832, in Staf- fordshire, England. He attended school in Eng- land until his fourteenth year, when his parents emigrated to America. Their names were Robert and Mary Maddock. They located in Mount Carmel, Indi- ana, where William attended the public schools four years. In 1863 he taught in the Brookville school, of which he was the principal. The following year he was appointed county school examiner of Franklin County, in which capacity he served until 1872; was proprietor and editor of the Franklin Democrat from 1868 to 1872, when he removed to Benton County, and engaged in farming for two years; after which he removed to Fow- ler, and was occupied in teaching in the Fowler public school for one year. In 1875 he started the Benton Review, a paper having a large circulation, of which he is editor and proprietor. In 1879 he was appointed county superintendent of Benton County for the term of two years. He has never been an office-seeker, al- though during the years 1864-66 he was deputy auditor and treasurer of Franklin County. He is a man of lib- eral religious views, and in politics a Democrat. He was married, October 14, 1858, to Margaret A. Portteus, of Franklin County. They have four children-three boys and one girl. Mr. Maddock, as an editor, has en- joyed great success, is genial in disposition, well read and well versed in the topics of the day, and is one of the leading men of his section of the state.
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