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 87

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 87

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URNELL, SAMUEL, farmer and banker, of Lima, Lagrange County, Indiana, was born, De- cember 24, 1809, in Yorkshire, England, and is the son of William and Ann (Horler) Burnell. They were farmers by occupation. Samuel emigrated from England to America in 1829, and was for about one year at White Pigeon, Michigan, where, in 1830, he was joined by his father and family. William Bur- nell settled in that town, where he died in 1837 in the seventy-third year of his age, and three years after was followed by his wife, who was sixty-five. Samuel Bur- nell enjoyed in boyhood and youth but little opportu- nities for instruction. In 1831 he went to Greenfield Township, and pre-empted a tract of land of one hun- dred and sixty acres on English Prairie, and began its improvement and tillage. The lands came into mar. ket in 1832, when he located one hundred and sixty acres more, giving him three hundred and twenty in all, which he still owns, and for twenty-five years has occupied as his homestead, with the exception of the years 1836 and 1837, which he spent as contractor and : mill and other crude improvised hand contrivances for builder in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1858, with S. P. ,

the purpose of crushing grain. He is of strong phy- Williams, John and James Howe and others, he organ- ; sique, squarely and solidly built, with ordinarily good

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health and robust constitution. Ilis character is with- out reproach, and he is respected and esteemed by all who know him.

ARR, WILLIAM, contractor and builder, Colum- bia City, Whitley County, Indiana, was born in Yorkshire, England, March 30, 1834. He received there a common school education, and learned the trade of stone-cutter. In 1854 he emigrated to America, landing in New York, but went immediately to Guelph, Canada, where he worked at his trade about one year. After spending the next two years in Chicago, he returned to Canada, visited New York, made a tour of the Southern states, and finally settled in Nashville, Tennessee, where for five years, he was in the employ of Maxwell, Saul- paw & Co., contractors. In March, 1861, he removed to Nevada, Ohio ; and, after remaining there a year or two, he was put in charge of the stone work on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, then in process of construction, and was in the employment of that company, part of the time as contractor, for about ten years. During that time, namely, in the year 1864, he removed to Columbia City, and since his residence there has put up all the finest buildings in the place. In 1875 he did the stone work for the new bridge at Ypsilanti, Michigan. He belongs to the Democratic party, and has served eight years as trustee of the Columbia City schools. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, has been master of the lodge, in Colum- bia City, for the last eight years, and holds a mem- bership in the Fort Wayne Council and Commandery. December 21, 1858, he was married, in Nashville, Ten- nessee, to Miss Mary Frances Jackson, and has two children, both daughters. Mr. Carr is an honorable and liberal man, of fine feelings and positive opinions, which can be changed only by convincing arguments. He has a large number of friends, but very few enemies. To the former he is true and steadfast, while to the lat- ter he is seldom reconciled, although never speaking harshly of them. Being social and a true gentleman at all times, he occupies an estimable place among the best men of the community in which he resides.

ARVER, DOCTOR LEWIS E., a retired phy- sician and surgeon, of Angola, Steuben County, LG Indiana, was born June 22, 1806, in Hebron, Tol- Do land County, Connecticut. He is the son of David T. and Shirley (Tarbox) Carver, who were farmers by occupation, and natives also of Hebron, Connecticut. They were descendants from English ancestors, who came to this country about 1740. Doctor Carver en- joyed in boyhood and youth the advantages of common

and select schools, which he attended winters, assisting his father at farm and other work the remainder of the year until the age of twenty, when he ceased going. Having acquired a good English education he engaged in teaching during the winter terms for four years. In 1828, when in his twenty-second year, he began read- ing medicine under the instructions of Doctor John S. Peters, of Hebron, with whom he remained for about one year. He supported himself in his studies by teach- ing. After leaving Doctor Peters's office he was for two years with Doctor O. C. White, and afterward began the practice of medicine in a drug-store, continuing this until the fall of 1844, when he removed to Indiana, and located on English Prairie, Steuben County. The following winter he taught school on Jackson Prairie, and in the spring of 1845 resumed the practice of his profession at that place, continuing in it until 1850, when, having been elected county treasurer, he closed his business and removed to Angola. At the expiration of the term of three years, in company with Thomas B. Moss, he purchased a saw-mill and embarked in the manufacture of lumber until 1855, when he sold his interest and served as recorder for four years, after which he engaged in the drug business for the first two years as manager and clerk for Drs. Howard and Rice, when he bought the stock in trade, continuing on his own account until 1865, then associating with himself his son Orville as a partner, under the firm name of L. E. Carver & Son, which continued until 1874. He then sold his interest to Orville, who continues the busi- ness on his own account. In 1873 Doctor Carver began the building of what is the central part of the splendid brick edifice now standing on the north-west corner and side of the public square, the finest block of stores and offices in the county, a pride and ornament of the city. After the completion of the building in 1874, he retired from activity, occupying his time in looking after his property. Doctor Carver, when in active professional life, occupied a distinguished position among the physi- cians of his county. In surgery, although the opportu- nities were small, he was usually successful, but his practice was principally in medicine, in which he won distinction. His labors extended over a large extent of country, and he met all the hardships and privations formerly encountered by the pioneer physician. While in active practice he secured to himself a large income and an eminent position among his neighbors, and at the same time enjoyed a reputation among his fellows much more than local. In his business enterprises he has been no less successful, having by judicious manage- ment acquired an ample competence. He has been lib- eral but discreet in assisting his children in their busi- ness undertakings in life. All appear to be on the road to success. Doctor Carver was educated in the old Jack- sonian Democratic school of politics, and cast his first

Hours Respectfully,

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Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, adhering to that party until 1854, when in consequence of the Nebraska bill, he severed the connection, and allied himself to the Republican party, with which he has ever since acted. Notwithstanding his activity and the fact that he has held official positions of honor, profit and trust, he can not be regarded as a politician. In 1850 he was chosen, by the Democratic party, county treasurer for three years. His election to the office of county recorder, in 1856, was by the Republican party. The Doctor has also served the people in minor official posi- tions. He was Justice of the Peace for four years in Jackson Township, and also town clerk for the same length of time. In all pursuits of life, professionally, socially, and in business, he has always commanded the respect and confidence of all. He has always wished to see the world bettered and has struggled for it, by help- ing every meritorious plan brought to his knowledge. Ile is a member of the Steuben County Grange, and a warm sympathizer and advocate of the temperance re- form. In religious matters he may be regarded as a lib- eral, believing that honor, integrity, and kindness make a good faith of themselves. He was married, Septem- ber 6, 1840, to Miss Frances A. Porter, of Hebron, Con- necticut, a lady of more than ordinary ability and worth. They have had eight children, five surviving. Orville was born August 20, 1843. He is now an active busi- ness man and an influential citizen of Angola, engaged in the drug business. He is also a substantial real estate owner, and postmaster of that city. He was among the first to respond to the call of the government for troops for the country's preservation and defense. Enlisting ASEBEER, JACOB B., M. D., a physician and surgeon, of Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana, was born April 11, 1839, in Holmes County, Ohio, and was the son of David and Rebecca (Kenstrick) Casebeer, who were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and farmers by occupation. His father was of German descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Germany to America, and settled in the state of Pennsylvania in the early days of the history of this country. Doctor Casebeer, owing to the numerous fam- ily of children with which his father was blessed, and the small amount of his worldly means, was afforded limited educational advantages, such as were given at a common school, which he attended during the winter terms. The summer after he was fourteen he was granted the privilege of attending a select school two months before harvest and two months after. He was obliged to walk two and a half miles to and from school each day. The winter of 1853 and 1854, he engaged, but with many misgivings, to teach a district school which had been noted for some time for the unruly and disorderly conduct of the larger scholars, resulting in the expulsion of the teachers employed and the break- with the expectation of joining the 9th Indiana Infan- try, which he was unable to do, as it already had its full complement, he at once went to Adrian, Michigan, and on the 9th of May, 1861, was mustered into the service in the 4th Michigan Infantry, and with his reg- iment was assigned to duty in the Army of the Potomac. ! He participated in all the general engagements of that army from Bull's Run to Petersburg, and much of the time was in service on the skirmish line, which threw him into many of the minor attacks and engagements. He was mustered out May 20, 1864, feeling satisfied with his soldier experience. On returning home he engaged in business, but soon became restless, and partly led by the extra inducements offered by the gov- ernment for veterans to constitute General Hancock's Veteran Corps, he enlisted April 5, 1865, for one year, and was held as a portion of the regular army, after the close of the war, until the expiration of enlistment. They were honorably discharged April 5, 1866. During his entire service he was ready for action, at all times, and never absent when duty called. Rachel A. was horn March 23, 1845. She is the wife of Thomas A. Parsons, of Angola. Oscar P. was born April 13, 1847, ing up of the classes, But his resolute nature, with his

and like his brother, early imbibed a passion for war- like service, and at the age of fifteen enlisted without the consent of his parents, going into camp at Indian- apolis. His father took him home again. The follow- ing year his desire became so strong, that his parents consented to his enlistment, when he joined the 88th Indiana Regiment of Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. As one of General Sherman's army, he accompanied it in its march to the sea. He was engaged part of the time as quartermaster clerk, which relieved him somewhat from active field duty. He resides at Summit, Traverse County, Michigan, where he is employed as agent of the Lake Shore and Mich- igan Southern Railroad and postmaster of that place, and is regarded as an energetic and enterprising citizen, active in educational and other matters of the town. Eugene A. was born August 12, 1852. He is now en- gaged in a successful grocery and provision business at Angola, and is acting clerk of the town board. Frank W. was born March 1, 1859, and is clerk in his brother's drug-store. Mr. Carver is now in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Although the hardships of pioncer profes- sional life and the lapse of years have made inroads upon his physical powers, he retains his mental faculties to a wonderful degree. He retains that energy and freshness of mind and retentive memory, which characterized him many years since, and with his good habits and correct life gives promise of many years yet to be added.

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desire to secure a situation, induced him to make the trial, which he did, with some trouble at the beginning, but ultimately being successful, and was re-engaged for three years in succession, each term extending by arrange- ment beyond the original time specified. He also taught in different localities the three following winters. Dur- ing this time he had pursued his studies, and devoted his leisure to attending higher grades of school. He had now become master of a good academic education. In 1860 he went to Hardin County, Kentucky, and, with his oldest brother, E. L. Casebeer, was engaged as traveling agent for a time. In the winter of 1860 and 1861 he was employed as principal of a graded school, which closed about April, when, at the solicita- tion of friends, he accepted a position as instructor of a select class of advanced students for a term of three months. Before the close of the term the secession spirit among the people became so strong that he was looked upon with a good deal of suspicion, on account of his known Union sentiments. Encouraged to remain by his employers, some of whom were rebels, he com- pleted his engagement, but at the peril of his life, hav- ing been threatened by mob violence and warned to leave the country, which he concluded to do upon the approach of the rebel army to Elizabethtown, none too soon for his personal safety. He returned to his father's, in Holmes County, Ohio. The following sea- son he taught school at Middletown, after which he engaged as principal of the union school at Fredericks- burg, Wayne County, Ohio, for one year. In the spring of 1862 he began, in connection with teaching, to read medicine in the office of Doctor Martin, of Fredericks- burg, remaining about a year and a half. In the fall of 1863 he entered the medical department of the Mich- igan State University, at Ann Arbor, staying until March, 1864. The next June, after having passed a rigid examination before the Ohio Board of Medical Examiners, he was commissioned a surgeon in the Union army, and ordered to duty at Dennison Hospital, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was soon placed over one division of the tent hospital. Soon after this he was promoted to the charge of the fourth division of United States army hospitals, which had at that time been made the fever department, remaining there until February, 1865, when he was commissioned by the Governor first assistant surgeon of the 103d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He immediately joined his regiment, then in North Carolina, and remained with it until it was mus- tered out of the service June 27, 1865, after which he returned to the office of Doctor Martin, at Freder- icksburg, and resumed the study of medicine, assisting the doctor in his practice until autumn, when he went to the city of New York and attended the winter course of lectures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, from which he graduated with marked distinction March

1, 1866. The following April he came to Indiana, and formed a copartnership with Doctor Keeslar for the practice of his profession, at Auburn, De Kalb County. The Doctor, in the winter of 1873 and 1874, returned to New York, and attended medical lectures, dividing his time between the Physicians' and Surgeons', the New York, and the Bellevue Hospital Medical Colleges. Returning to Auburn, he continued the practice of his profession uninterruptedly to the present time. Doctor Casebeer's business connection with Doctor Keeslar con- tinued until 1869, at which time Doctor K. removed to Steuben County; Doctor Casebeer remaining in practice on his own account. He subsequently associated with him Doctor Spooner, a student from his office, and later, for a short time, was associated with Doctor Littlefield. With the exception of these short intervals he was alone in business until July 14, 1879, when, in company with Doctor T. G. Matheny, he purchased the drug-store now conducted by them, but not ceasing his practice of med- icine and surgery. In his profession Doctor Casebeer has been eminently successful. He has been acting surgeon for the Detroit, Eel River and Illinois Railroad Company from Butler to Logansport, and is medical examiner for the Union Central Life Insurance Com- pany. His qualifications for the positions are unques- tioned. His watchfulness over the interest and welfare of his patients, his devotion to his profession, his sound sense and good judgment, combine to complete his ac- knowledged fitness for his calling. As a surgeon, he has met with unusual success. He is conservative in his practice, although a skillful operator. But medicine is the more important arm of his profession. His adapta- bility for the position of family physician is excelled by none, and equaled by few. His practice has been pro- fessionally and financially successful, and he has gained an ample competence and won for himself a reputation much more than local. He is now in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative business, and stands in the front rank. His intercourse with his fellow -men has been such that his conduct commands the respect and confi- dence of all. In politics Doctor Casebeer is a decided Republican, always ready in the support and defense of his political convictions. He is active in his party, acting always from principle, and not from aspirations for office or political preferment. He claims the priv- ilege of supporting men and measures only when in his judgment they are calculated to secure the best interests of the whole people. His bold and independent char- acter and resolute purpose were well demonstrated at the Presidential election of 1860. He was at that time in Hardin County, Kentucky, and was one of three who possessed the bravery to vote the Republican ticket at the polls in his precinct. Being his first vote, he openly declared his right to cast his ballot for his favorite can- didate, and fearlessly gave it in for Abraham Lincoln,

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amid strong and threatening expressions and demonstra- tions on the part of the election board and all others present. Doctor Casebeer is foremost and influential in the work of temperance reform in Auburn, and promi- nent in molding popular sentiment against the liquor trade. He has, with a few others, combated the illegal traffic in the courts, regardless of the frowns of the liquor dealer, loving the temperance cause because it elevates humanity and protects the weak and defense- less. Doctor Casebeer is a member and president of the North-eastern Medical Society of Indiana, and also be- longs to the American Medical Association. He is an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he joined many years since, and for about ten years has filled the position of a member of the board of trustees and one of the official board. He is a con- sistent Christian, and by his liberality has added much to the material prosperity of the Church. He was mar- ried, February 5, 1863, to Harriet G. Smith, of Freder- icksburg, Ohio, daughter of Eli B. and Fannie Smith. She died January 28, 1869, leaving one daughter, Fannie R., born November 27, 1865. He was again married, June 4, 1872, to Sarah E. Nycum, of Fort Wayne. She is a lady of marked intelligence, and a devoted, active, and useful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Her sympathies are generous; she is charitable in deed his experience against the capital of his partner. After and thought, and is highly respected and loved by her Church, friends and neighbors. They have one daughter, Hattie E., born April 11, 1873. Doctor Casebeer is sol- idly, but not heavily, built, stands erect, and has good health and a robust constitution. He is now in the prime of manhood, courteous and genial in manner, respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends. His position is assured as a physician, a neighbor, and a man.

LAPP, JUDGE WILLIAM M., banker and pio- neer, of Albion, Noble County, Indiana, was born, December 18, 1817, in Ellington, Tolland County, Connecticut, and was the eighth child of Stephen and Mary (Loomis) Clapp, who were farmers, and natives of the same state. The former was of Danish extraction. The lineage of the family is recorded as far back as 1025. Osgood Clapp is known in history as a Danish nobleman at the court of England in the reign of King C'anute, whose period of power extended from 1017 to 1036. The ancestor of this family in America was 'Thomas, one of three brothers who emigrated to this country in 1633. They abandoned the comforts and pleasures of their native land that they might untram- meled worship God in their own way, settling in Dor- chester, Massachusetts. William M. Clapp is of the seventh generation in the United States. In youth he enjoyed extremely limited educational advantages, as-

sisting his father about the farm nine months of the year, and attending school irregularly the remaining three. At the age of six his father's family removed from Connecticut to Windsor, Ashtabula County, Ohio. This gave him no better opportunities for an education ; but, possessing great industry, he pursued his studies both in and out of school. The Judge remembers with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction his maple-sugar boiling days. While thus engaged in the bush he gave his spare moments to Murray's Grammar, committing to memory the coarse print, which was the practice in those days, and becoming master of the science. At the age of seventeen he felt himself master of as good a common school education as he could obtain in the neighborhood, when he conceived the idea of becoming a school-teacher. He obtained such a situation, but soon found that he could not manage the large and disorderly scholars to his satisfaction. He informed the authorities that school-teaching was not his strong point, voluntarily acknowledged his defeat, and abandoned the field. The following spring he went to Burton, Ohio, and engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store, where he remained eighteen months; and subsequently was employed as a clerk in Mantua, Franklin, and Chester, Ohio. He afterwards formed a copartnership with a Mr. Johnson, offsetting

securing a location and building, Johnson proved insol- vent, and the enterprise failed. After vainly seeking employment, and finding himself in Wheeling, Virginia, somewhat disheartened, and with little money, he fell in with a gentleman and wife on their way to Kentucky as school-teachers, by whom he was induced to try his fortune in that field. Securing a deck passage on board a boat about going down the river, after an eight-day trip, he was landed at Maysville, Kentucky, with a one- dollar bill on the Massillon Bank, Ohio, in his pocket, but which proved of no value to him, as the bank soon afterwards failed. After much searching, he secured a position among the hills, where he taught for a year. He subsequently went to Fayette County. After pur- suing his vocation as pedagogue here for about eighteen months. he closed school-teaching, feeling that his sec- ond effort in that direction had proved successful, and satisfied that he had now some money on hand. He returned to his home in Ohio. His early ambition having Been for the profession of law, he determined to direct his energies wholly in that direction ; but, prefer- ring to make his new venture in a region of country pre- viously unknown to him, he purchased a horse, bridle, and saddle-bags, filling the latter with his clothing and some provisions, and then he set out for Indiana. After a journey of eight days he brought up at Peru. Miami County, then but a hamlet, although the county-seat. Here he secured a place as student in the office of E. P. Loveland, and by diligent application and hard work he,

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at the end of a year and a half, successfully passed a rigid examination, and was by the authorities granted a license to practice before the courts of the state, his parchment bearing the date of March, 1843. The following April found him at Augusta, where the courts of Noble County then sat, confidently asking the people's patron- age, of which a full share was accorded him. He clung to the fortunes of the county-seat with commendable tenacity, joining it in its migration from Augusta to Port Mitchell in IS44, and thence to Albion and to its present location in 1847. To Mr. Clapp, perhaps, more than to any other one man, is due the credit for having it where it now is. His determination, energy, and in- telligent management contributed much towards the result. He was then in the successful practice of his profession, and his ability and genial manner gave him a large influence with the people of the county. In 1848, while actively engaged in practice, he formed a copartnership with H. H. Hitchcock in the mercantile business, the connection continuing until 1849, when Mr. Clapp bought his partner's interest, and carried on the trade on his own account until 1868, at that time associating with him C. P. Phillips. In 1873 W. W. White became a member of the firm, with the under- standing that the company were to continue the trade, and construct the brick block now standing on the cor- ner of Main and Orange Streets. In 1875 Mr. Clapp sold his interest in the building to Mr. Phillips, but in 1876 the property fell into his hands as sole owner. The bank was also begun as a company affair, but in 1875 he bought his partner's share, and became owner and manager of the institution, which has since been conducted by him and his sons. In 1873, by force of circumstances, he became interested in a woolen manu- factory at Rome City, which was operated by the com- pany at a loss during the depression of the times, and finally, in 1878, was completely destroyed by fire, with- out the protection of insurance. Judge Clapp's profes- sional and business enterprises, as a rule, have been eminently successful, and have secured to him an ample fortune. He was brought up in the old Whig school of politics, and was an active adherent of that party until 1854, when, there being no longer a Whig organ- ization, he allied himself to the Republican party, and has ever since been an ardent supporter of its men and measures. He is carnest in the support and defense of his political convictions. Although he has for many years held positions of honor and trust, he has accepted his party nominations at the solicitation of his political and personal friends, more than from his own seeking. But when once he is in the field as the standard-bearer to lead his party to success, he is activity itself. In 1845 he was elected auditor of Noble County, serving five years, and in 1856 he was chosen to represent his district in the Legislature for a term of two years. He was

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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 87

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