USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > A history of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana : a complete and concise account from the earliest times to the present, embracing reminiscences of the pioneers and biographical sketches of the men who have been leaders in commercial and other enterprises > Part 33
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29 Bat. N. Y. July 24, '64 Corporal ..
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
JOHN WESLEY.
Mr. John Wesley, whose record partly appears in the Grand Army report, has a militáry career which is worthy of more attention. He came to Evansville in February, 1869, since which time he has pursued the occupation of a carpenter. He is a member of Farragut Post, G.A. R., and a past grand master of Rising Star lodge, No. 44, I.O.O.F. He was discharged from the United States frigate "Columbia" April 10, 1855, at North Virginia. The captain of the vessel was W. B. Wilson. Mr. Wesley re-entered the service and was discharged from the United States ship " Dale" May 30, 1859. He again entered the naval service and was discharged from the United States steamer "San Jacinto " November 30, 1861. This steamer was commanded by Captain Charles Wilkes. He participated in the capture of Slidel and Mason on board of the English ship " Trent " in 1861.
The sea had become his home and he again entered the service of the United States at the end of his enlistment. He was afterwards discharged from the steamer " Albatross " June 14, 1864. This steamer was commanded by T. B. Dubos. Mr. Wesley served in var- ions capacities on board these different vessels. He was born in the city of New York. At the present time he is 69 years old, and on account of his age and his services to his country he is now living peacefully in the soldiers' home at Marion, Indiana. He is a man whose patriotism is still young. This recognition is due him for his great service to his country.
CHARLES H. MYERHOFF.
Charles H. Myerhoff is worthy of special notice in this chapter, which is devoted to the heroes of Farragut Post, for he was the first soldier to enlist in Vanderburgh county. After serving through the entire war he returned home, having won, meantime, the rank of captain.
FARRAGUT WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
Naturally the patriotic women organized themselves into a relief corps and became auxiliary to the posts of the Grand Army of the Republic. With the same noble impulse the ladies of the G. A. R. organized for the same charitable and helpful purpose. Their minis- trations to the needs of the soldiers' widows and orphans and to the maimed old veterans themselves, far exceeded in kindliness and gentle- ness the heroism of the sturdier acts in the defense of the flag.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
Farragut Woman's Relief Corps was instituted Aug. 6, 1885. Its present membership is 87. The charter members were:
Malvina Wilson,
Jane Wooley,
Ella Parsons,
Olive Flower,
Susan Sansom,
H. L. Scoville,
Lina Marker,
Mary E. Jacobi,
Margaret Reichert,
Emma Ewing, Sarah Goodge, Mary J. Babcock,
Jennie Esslinger,
Kate Sickenberger,
Margaret Laughlin,
Etha L. Gilchrist,
Esther Gudgel,
Mattie E. Grill,
Lizzie Shanklin,
Lida B. Warren,
Sarah Messick,
Emily J. Butterfield,
Franciska Priess,
Minta Tombler,
Grace Gillett,
L. J. Plummer,
Henrietta Richstein,
Elizabeth Talbot, Jennie Myerhotf.
Those who have served the corps as presidents are:
Malvina Wilson,
Mary A. Hopkins,
Mary A. Little,
Sarah Goodge,
Lida B. Warren,
Kate Meyers,
Mattie E. Grill,
Louisa Puster,
Emily J. Butterfield,
Mora Bixby,
Jennie Myerhoff,
Martha Eberwine.
FARRAGUT CAMP, NO. 117, DIVISION OF INDIANA, SONS OF VETER-
ANS OF U. S. A.
This camp was mustered March 27, 1888. This membership is 31 .. The charter members were :
J. J. Nolan, H. A. McCutchan,
H. Reichert,
C. F. Reichert, W. A. Walker,
E. L. Cole,
J. W. Compton, Jr.,
E. G. Seiffer,
G. M. Foster,
H. J. Keelor,
M. B. Speer,
J. S. Tupman,
J. Niehaus,
W. G. Keelor,
L. A. Esslinger,
W. H. Nexsen,
W. E. Vickery,
Ed. Goldsmith,
E. H. Niehaus,
W. J. Miller,
W. V. Cooper,
Fred. Zahn, Jr.,
M. J. Compton,
E. W. Sherwood,
C. Wunderlich, Jr.,
Bert Messick,
Charles Tupman,
A. Weissell,
F. A. Foster, Hugo Otto,
W. E. Males,
F. S. Compton,
Robt. Krectmar,
A. W. Vogler,
A. H. Firnhaber, Jr.,
Ed. Sluder,
Ph. Zahn, Jr.,
E. D. Lewis,
W. A. Phipps,
Geo. Holfelner,
Chas. Marker,
J. J. Ohning,
Ed. Keil,
L. B. Garrison,
S. Bennett.
J. W. Pritchard, Jr.
The past officers are : J. J. Nolan, W. E. Males, J. G. Winfrey, W. E. Stinson, Thos. E. Downs, C. F. Zahn, J. W. Junker, H. N. Hopkins and S. H. Wardle. The present officers are: H. L. Nor- cross, captain; H. B. Barton, first lieutenant ; Walter McDowell, second lieutenant, and S. H. Wardle, first sergeant.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
COLONEL JOHN W. FOSTER CAMP, NO. 350, S. OF V.
This division of the Sons of Veterans was organized in April, 1896. It is a flourishing camp.
STATE MILITIA.
Company M, First Infantry Indiana National Guard, was mus- tered May 29, 1895. It numbers 55. Company M. was organized by Major H. P. Cornick and J. S. Helmer. The first officers were : Captain, J. F. Blum ; first lieutenant, A. G. Bays ; second lieutenant, Robert Dubois ; first sergeant, J. S. Helmer. Shortly after its orgau- ization this company was assigned to the first battalion of the First Infantry Indiana National Guard. Since its first muster two lieuten- ants have resigned their commissions by reason of removal from this county. The present officers are : Captain, J. F. Blum ; first lieuten- ant, W. N. Hollingsworth ; second lieutenant, J. M. Woods. The national guard armory is located on Second street, in the Vickery building, opposite the Custom House. J. F. Blum has been captain since its organization.
Company E., First Infantry Indiana National Guard, was mustered October 5, 1871. It numbers 70 in its ranks It was remustered April 2, 1894. Under the present national guard law of this state, enlisted men are mustered for a period of three years. At the end of that time they may take au honorable discharge. On July 6, 1894, the armory of this company, located in Germania hall, was destroyed by fire and all the records were lost. The present armory is located with Company M., of this regiment, on Second street, in the Vickery building. The company has attended eight encampments held in the following cities: Evansville, 1888 ; Indianapolis, 1889 ; South Bend, 1890; Fort Wayne, 1891; Frankfort, 1892; Terre Haute, 1893; Indianapolis, 1895, and Indianapolis, 1896. They also rendered active service in the riots of 1894. The following have served as captains : Henry Hoster, H. C. Cornick, J. F. Blum and Q. E. McDowell. Captain H. P. Cornick was promoted to major of the first battalion March 11, 1892. The present officers are : Q. E. McDowell, captain ; Felix R. Farrow, first lieutenant; F. W. Stute, second lientenant ; E. R. Spain, first sergeant, and Sam H. Wardle, company clerk.
Previous to January 1, 1894; the militia of the state were known as state militia. But on that date the national guard law went into effect, and when the company was remustered April 2, 1894, it became part and parcel of the Indiana National Guard. Company E. has
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
supplied the first regiment with a major, a regimental adjutant, and a battalion adjutant and sergeant major.
Colonel John F. Grill Post, No. 541, is a colored organization, which was instituted in December, 1888. It is a prosperous post. A Woman's Relief Corps, No. 122, was organized in May, 1889, as auxiliary to this post. This corps has its affairs in good condition and is doing successful work.
THE OLD SOLDIER CLUB.
Along with the other military or semi-military organizations of this city must be classed the Old Soldier Club. The club is the first of the kind in the United States. It is in no sense an organization in opposition to the Grand Army of the Republic, but it is a separate order, entirely different in its origin and designs. In its inception it was partly a political organization, but in time it gradually assumed a wider field of action and took upon itself the duties of mutual help and protection. The social benefit and the general good of its mem- bers became its chief object.
During the political campaign of 1896, General Sickles wrote them, suggesting an organization somewhat of this character but which should embrace the Sons of Veterans in its membership. However, the Old Soldier Club preferred to remain as it was and exclude the Sons of Veterans.
This club was organized March 25, 1896, enrolling at once a large list of members that has grown meanwhile until it now numbers about 350. The officers elected at this first meeting were: J. J. Graham, colonel; Fred Geiger, lieutenant colonel; L. N. Wheeler, major; Gus. Seiffer, quartermaster, and George G. McGrew, adjutant. At the ex- piration of their term of office these men were re-elected to the same positions. Two additional offices were created and filled as follows: Dr. G. N. Ralston, surgeon, and T. W. Thornburg, chaplain.
They are governed by their constitution and by-laws. To-day the club is in a flourishing condition. It has various standing committees, the duties of which are to look after legislation, state and national, and to see that justice is done the "old soldier." The aims of this club are worthy ones.
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CHAPTER XXII.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Some Biographies of the Leading Men of Evansville-Men Who Have Distinguished Themselves in Various Pursuits in Life- Citizens Who Have Helped to Make Evansville What It Is- Those Who Have Laid Its Foundation and Have Seen Its Growth.
HENRY FITCH BLOUNT.
Henry F. Blount was born in Richmond, Ontario county, New York, May 1, 1829. His 'father, Walter Blount, came to western New York from Norwich, Conn., when a boy, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. The family came originally from England, late in the 17th century, and settled in Massachusetts. Walter Blount, the father of Henry, was a woolen manufacturer, carried on the business first in Ontario county, New York, and in the winter of 1830 moved to Cat- taraugus county, where he bought a larger mill, and in which the son learned the rudiments of the trade; and it was under the training and influence of his father, whose methods were ever of the humanitarian order, that the son was imbued with that spirit of fair dealing with the men in his employ, which has made his career as a manufacturer so successful.
On the death of the father, which occurred in 1845, the son was placed in a country store, (" commercial house," the young men of to- day would call it) to learn the methods and principles of business; and it was a happy circumstance that the father's training was supple- mented by one equally as favorable in another department, for it was here that the more mature lad learned those business methods which he ever after practiced, and to which he attributes his success as a financier. After three years and a quarter the young man concluded to take the advice of Horace Grecly, and "go west and grow up with the country." And so, in the autumn 1849, he started, going via Lake Erie to Detroit, and from there to New Buffalo by rail, and across the lake by steamer. There was no railway running into Chicago from the east at that time. His first winter was spent in Peoria, III., the
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
following summer in Iowa, from whence he went to Worthington, Ind., in the autumn. Here he began his first business life, as a partner with George W. Langworthy, with whom he was associated for eight years. Having succeeded far beyond his expectations, he sought the larger field of business in the growing city on the Ohio river, where he spent the next twenty-six years-from 1860 to 1886-really all the remain- der of his active business life.
The first ten years of his life in Evansville was devoted to the foundry business, as partner and financial manager in the firm of Roelker, Blount & Co. He also became a partner, and was the financial manager of the firm of James Urie & Co. in 1867. In the winter of 1869-70 he sold his interest in the foundry business, and six months later became the sole owner of the Blount Plow Works (the successor to the Urie Company.) This establishment, from the small dimensions which it possessed in 1867, has grown to its present im- mense capacity by virtue of that sort of genius which comprehends the capacity of every one in his employ, and to put every man in the place he is best fitted the fill, and above all to recognize in every work- man a fellow man. This alone is a good reason why a strike has never occurred in his establishment. Mr. Blount was married while living at Worthington to Martha Baird, by whom he had three child- ren, two of whom are still living, Frederick, the president of the Lone Star Salt Co., of Texas, and Rose, who lives with her two child- ren at Kalamazoo, Mich. She was married to Samuel B. Nisbet, of Evansville. Martha died in 1862. The second marriage was in 1864 to Lucia A. Eames, of Kalamazo, Mich. By this marriage six child- ren were born, four of whom are living, two daughters and two sons.
In the summer of 1886 Mr. Blount and family went to Europe, more especially to study the French language, as he had become con- vinced that it was practicably an impossibility for one taught a foreign language in this country to speak it with any degree of fluency. They lived a year most delightfully in a villa near the old city of Tours, in France, and another at that charming old French-Swiss city, Geneva. In the autumn of 1888 the family returned to America, and settled iu Washington, and have for a number of years lived at "the Oaks," the most charming of the many famous old homes on Georgetown Heights. This grand old mansion was built by the Beverlys, of Virginia, (the local historians of Washington's time) in 1805, and was occupied by them till about 1821, when it was bought by the Cal- houns, John C. and his brother, who occupied it till about 1832-33.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
It was here that they entertained Lafayette when he last visited this country.
The life in Evansville was always characteristic of the man ; ever ready to advance the interests of his adopted city, whether in its busi- ness or its literary improvement. When by the philanthropic gift of the Hon. Willard Carpenter the library was built, Mr. Blount was chosen as the president of its board of trustees, and held that position as long as he remained in the city. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Evansville National bank, and of the Old National for many years, and was instrumental in organizing the first railway leading out of the city to the east, and gave us our first direct connection with Louisville through Southern Indiana. In politics Mr. Blount was a republican, but in city affairs often cut loose from party, believing that in municipal affairs party should give way for capability and integrity. His church affiliation was with the Walnut Street Presbyterian, but in his religious belief, like his political, his range was not coufined to the sect to which he had attached himself, but believed that there "was good in all, but none all good." In his new home in the nation's capitol, he seems to have carried the same characteristics as pervaded his life in Evansville. He has been for a number of years president of the board of trustees of the Industrial Home School, is vice president of the Central Dispensary and Emer- gency Hospital, chairman of the committee ou parks and reservations of the board of trade, and member of the executive committee of the American Security and Trust Company, the largest monetary institu- tion in the city, except those of the government. And while his head shows the effects of the frosts of a good many winters, his sixty-seven years have not been able perceptably to diminish the elasticity of his step, or the cheerfulness of his disposition. His old friends, his busi- ness associates, and his employes all extend to him the hand of wel- come as each year brings him to his old home to sit down with his workmen and their families at the annual dinner which he provides for them on the first day of May, his birthday. May he live long to do this.
CARL F. ROSENKRANZ.
Carl F. Rosenkranz was born in Kocnigsberg, Prussia, February 25, 1810. Hc was the fourth son of a family of seven sons and two daughters, children of Gottfried and Renate Rosenkranz. Six of the sons served iu the Prussian army ; the oldest afterwards received an
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
appointment as royal forrester. The second learned the trade of a blacksmith, while the four others learned the trade of their father, who was a builder of tower clocks long before machine-made clocks were thought of. The mother of these boys and girls, all of whom inherited robust physiques, was the daughter of a foundry man named Werner.
The subject of this sketch served as a member of a royal grenadier regiment for a number of years after his first enlistment term of three years. He then established himself in the business of watch-making at Baerwalde, an old-time fortress, where on the 10th of February, 1840, he married the widow of Samuel Speck, who was six years his senior and the mother of two sons and two daughters. The oldest of these sons, Wm. A. Speck, is an honored and well-to-do citizen of Owensville, in this state, and the other, Samuel E. Speck, of Gray- ville, Illinois. On the 26th of October, 1842, the only child of this union was born and named AAlbert Carl. The revolution of 1848 in- volved some of the relatives of the Rosenkranz family, who, with many others, concluded that a change of climate would benefit them ; and they left their native land for the home of the free and the brave ; some settling in Texas, others in Wisconsin.
In the early spring of 1850, Carl F. Rosenkranz and his wife sold their town and farm property, and in May started, with their five children, from Bremerhaven for the new home beyond the seas ; the north of Texas, by way of New Orleans, being their destination. After a tedious voyage of nine weeks on a crowded emigrant sailing vessel, they reached New Orleans on the 5th of July, 1850. During this long voyage a difference sprang up between those who were to form the Texas colony, and they concluded to separate. Mr. Rosenkranz embark- ing with his family on the first boat that left for the Ohio river, with no definite plans as to where they would land. On shipboard they had formed some acquaintance with a family who were going to join rela- tives living near Evansville; and their good account of this locality induced them to stop here. Mosquitos and prickly heat tortured the new comers on their trip up the river, and all were glad when their long journey came to an end and they could again rest on terra firma, though strangers among people speaking a language they could not understand. An independent life in a free country had been Mr. Rosenkranz's ideal ; consequently he did not stop long in the very common-place village on the Ohio; and with the aid of Martin Schmoll, who made a business of looking after newly arrived Germans, he bought a farm, near what is now Inglefield, from James White; 23
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
who, with many others, had caught the California gold fever. Farm life was made romantic enough, and here this son, Albert C., started to learn the English language, in the rude country school where his knowledge of arithmetic, geography and a little Latin caused him to be regarded with wonder by the other scholars, who had thought all green Dutchmen were stupid.
In about a year the romance of farm life gave way to the American spirit of money-making ; and as watch-making in town seemed the better medium, before long a modest sign " C. F. Rosenkranz, Watchı- maker," appeared on the window of a little house on Second street, between Main and Sycamore streets. His skill brought him customers, and finding a buyer in the person of Fred. Fenchler, who had recently removed here from New Orleans, he sold the farm and invested the proceeds in the property then owned by Harrington & Lockhart on Second street, adjoining the present B. M. A. building. Here Mr. Rosenkranz labored with unremitting industry for seventeen years, his son entering the business at the age of thirteen, as an apprentice, in 1855, rendering valuable assistance for six years until he entered the union army in 1862. At the close of the war the son, then a major of the fourth Indiana cavalry regiment, returned home and re-entered the business, which continued for two years under the name of C. F. Rosenkranz & Son. The very close attention given by Mr. Rosen- kranz during so many years to business, dwarfing in its effect on the mental and physical powers, with the absence of congenial society, combined to produce a discontented state of mind which culminated in a long visit to Europe by Mr. Rosenkranz. His wife remained here where all her children were located and prospering. Thus the family separated in 1868 and were never re-united. Mr. Rosenkranz traveled extensively and finally entered to rest on the 1st day of Jan- nary, 1886, in Baerwalde, Germany. His wife had gone before him, on the 21st day of July, 1884. This short history of the life of Carl F. Rosenkranz, as it relates to his connection with Evansville, would be lacking if nothing were said about the character of this man, which exerted an influence at the time and determined the career of his son. He had superior intellectual gifts, was an ardent lover of nature, detested shams of all kinds, was an agnostic in religion yet loved mankind. He endeared himself to the few who knew him intimately. No son ever had a more affectionate father and friend.
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
WILLIAM A. HESTER.
The energetic school superintendent, Professor William A. Hester, inherits the talent and qualities of progress he possesses from a long line of ancestors who have been in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. His father, his grandfather and some of his rela- tives have been teachers of God's sacred word, and at the same time were of that class of pioneer meu whose services to their fellow-men aided in the development of the present state of education and civili- zation.
Mr. Hester was born in Indianapolis, on March 17, 1858. His father, at the time, was pastor of one of the Methodist churches there. He was graduated from DePauw university in 1881, and his scholar- ship there ranked high. Previous to his graduation he had adopted the profession ot teacher. For four years he was a teacher in the schools of southeastern Indiana, two of which years were immediately before he received his degree from DePauw, and the other two imme- diately after. Before the close of the year 1882, he was selected as prin- cipal of the high school at Owensboro, a position he filled without intermission from that time until he became connected with the schools of this city in 1890, as principal of the Campbell Street school. His excellence in his chosen work was so clear that in 1894 he was unani- mously selected by the school trustees as superintendent of the public schools here, and he is still filling with credit to himself and profit to the schools and satisfaction to the city this responsible and important position. He has well demonstrated his thoroughness in his work, his comprehensiveness of the best methods of developing the tender young minds, his progressive ideas and approved system of teaching, and his masterful attention to detail as well as routine work. He has had but one general aim all along, and that is "forward." He has spared no personal effort, he has shunned no reasonable sacrifice to make his labors profitable to those under his supervision. He has not been neg- lectful in applying every form of progress, every new and approved educational method, every inductive plan that has been successfully tried, every devised way that would enlist the beginner and hold the attention and interest. In the primary department, where the best work is done, he has been especially felicitous. It is here that a man's superior powers of teaching are shown, or the lack of such powers are disclosed ; it is here that so many teachers fail in their ability to de- velop the active young intellect, seeking for new light and new knowl- edge. Success here is success in every higher grade of learning. The
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IND.
pupil is led up through the different grades so skillfully that the art of literary expression becomes a delight and an ease. Expression, by tongue or pencil, in this modern life is necessary, and correctness of expression is a proud achievement. This has been one of the ultimate objects of Mr. Hester's plan of education. He has associated with him in this work a corps of competent and wide-awake teachers, and with- out flattery to him or disparagement to any of his predecessors, it may be said that the schools were never more ably taught than at the pres- ent. The high school is separated into departments, with a specialist over each. All the various schools throughout the city are success- fully and honestly taught.
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