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 34
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It may be said of Mr. Hester that he is a man of fine administrative ability. His excelleut scholarship, his deep earnestness, his conscien- tious work, his gentlemanly qualities, his charitable disposition, his regard for the feelings of others distinguished him at once as a mau eminently fitted for the great position he is so ably filling. He is indefatigable in his labors, and never wearies in carrying out his pur- poses and plans.
WILLIAM HUGHES.
William Hughes arrived in New York from Ireland in 1837. After making quite a tour of the country, he heard of a flourishing paper mill in Madison, Indiana, which he hoped to secure. Failing in this, he embarked in the dry goods business in that town with William Griffin. In 1839 he married Miss Emelia Davidson, and shortly afterward moved to Evansville. He built the brick store on Main street opposite the Gilbert-Miller building, and opened one of the first dry goods houses in the city. He afterwards sold the building to Richard Raleigh and moved to the corner of Second and Main streets, where he conducted the same business for many years. Moving into larger quarters as the city improved, he combined wholesale and re- tail. His business career was very successful. He was a clear-headed, conservative business man. His honor was dearer to him than life, and he adhered to the strictest integrity in all his transactions. Mr. Hughes was much interested in the cause of education, actively using his influence in promoting the establishment of the public schools, and was one of the first board of trustees. He was a devoted and sincere christian-a member of the Catholic church, and always foremost in any effort for the cause of religion. He passed away in his seveuty- fifth year, leaving a name honored and respected by all who knew
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him. Three sons and two daughters survive him. Two of the sons continue the business, Alfred and Reuben. The third is a successful merchant at Marshall, Illinois.
SILAS STEPHENS.
It is not because Silas Stephens married the only daughter of Gen- eral Robert M. Evans-Julia Ann-that entitles him to public recog- nition in a brief biographical sketch, but on account of his own worth and acts. In 1837 Mr. Stephens was the sole proprietor of the only saddlery in the town. After disposing of his business to the author and his brother, Dr. William M. Elliott, he engaged in the sawmill business on the river front. He was the owner of the first steam saw- mill built in Vanderburgh county. Naturally he succeeded in this. The elements of success were in him. Then he engaged in farming in Center township, developing a rare tact for managing land to the best advantage. A little past middle life he yielded to death. He was a man held in great respect for his integrity and high manly principles. His wife had entered upon her long rest shortly before him. Their only daughter, Mrs. Jane E. Scantlin, is now living in this city.
CADWALADER M. GRIFFITH.
In 1837 Cadwalader M. Griffith opened the first regular hardware store in the town. A man of thorough business qualities, he succeeded rapidly in building up a large trade. His business career was cut off by death in early life. A widow, daughter and two sons survived him. His daughter afterward became Mrs. Dr. S. W. Thompson. His elder son is now a partner in the Orr hardware store, of this city; the other son is a farmer in Knox county, Ind. The death of Mr. Griffith was a loss to business. He was universally respected, and was a member of the Episcopal church, and a consistent Christian.
THE LUNKENHEIMER FAMILY.
Jacob Lunkenheimer and his brother, Frederick, emigrated to America, arriving in New York in November, 1845. They came from Bingen on the Rhine, that poetically historical spot, rendered familiar to every American school-boy by a poem in his reader. Jacob was
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born October 10, 1823, and Frederick was born April 13, 1826. They at once, on arrival in this country, proceeded to Mt. Carmel, Ill., where they resided for three years. They at first engaged in farming. As was natural and commendable they wished to better their eircum- stances, and to do this they sought a larger field of operation. So again they changed their location, and for the last time. They came to Evansville with their old German wagon in July, 1848. They camped on the corner of Main and Third streets, where Nathan Gross's large store now stands, in a cluster of trees or grove, and stopped at the old Taylor hotel later. They at once, however, entered into business, and opened a confectionery store, saloon and restaurant on Second street, where Curnick's business college is now located, remaining there for two years. Jacob then went into the firm of Law, Johnson & Lunkenheimer. Their law and real estate business office was on the upper floor of a frame building on First street, where Loewenthal's store now is. This partnership lasted over three years. Then Jacob became a partner of Charles Denby, and their law and real estate office was on Third street.
It was apparent that these two brothers had descended from a stal- wart, brainy family, and some of their transactions developed the fact that they were men of more than ordinary talent in commercial mat- ters. Their talent was needed in conducting the affairs of the county, and Jacob was elected county clerk, serving from 1852 to 1857. His brother, Frederick, was his deputy clerk. So acceptably and efficiently did they conduct the duties of this office that Frederick was elected county recorder, and served from 1860 to 1864. The position was filled satisfactorily to the people, so that they elected him eonnty treas- urer, his term running from 1866 to 1871.
Jacob Lunkenheimer died in September, 1859, and his death was felt to be a great loss to the public. Few men possessed the natural tact and skill and broad knowledge of humanity that he did. Few men ever performed the duties of a public office with more skill or more in accord with the wishes of the people. Few men were so abso- lutely honest and faithful and genial in every circumstance of life. It was the verdict of every one that he was an "honest man," than which no higher eulogy can be passed on any one. Two children were born to him, but they died young.
Frederick Lunkenheimer died August 4, 1885. It was a fact, known to every one in the county and even far beyond, that no man, holding a public office, ever had the confidence of the people so completely, or himself had their interests and general good more at heart. He was
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a man, few of whom are like him-honest, punctual, efficient, thor- ough, genial.
To him were born eleven ehildren, eight of whom are still living, to- wit: Jacob W., Miss Carrie, Oscar, Edward, Miss Lillie, Clinton, Miss Ida and Miss Kate. There are two sisters of Frederick and Jacob liv- ing to-day in this city, Mrs. Valentine (Kate) Diedrich and Mrs. Andrew (Eva) Schlauch.
The oldest son of Frederick, named Jacob W. Lunkenheimer, is in the glassware business, a member of the firm of Blackman & Lunken- heimer. He is a prosperous and successful business man, and deserv- edly so.
J. B. THOMAS.
The subject of this sketch was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, March 28, 1821. At the age of twenty-five he embarked in the coal business on the Monongahela river in Pennsylvania, load- ing coal in barges and shipping the same to Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans. In 1854 he moved to Pittsburg, still operating his coal mines. Five years later, with that shrewd business sagacity that would gain the advantage of competition by reducing the expenses of transportation, he opened up a large coal mine on Green river, Kentucky, and shipped his coal to Memphis, Tennessee. In 1860 he located in Evansville, still operating his coal mines on Green river, near South Carrolton, Kentucky. He opened up a large new coal mine in Spottsville, Kentucky, in 1862, and brought this coal to the Evansville market. He brought the first Green river coal to this city that was ever in the market. While in the coal business he owned and commanded several steamboats. He purchased the First avenue coal mines, in this city, in 1877, and operated the same up to the time of his death, which occurred Jannary 26, 1892.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Van Hook, who was also born in West Moreland county, Pennsylvania. Their children are : Malisa, now Mrs. J. H. Lozier, of Cleveland, Ohio ; C. C. Thomas, of Evans- ville, Indiana ; E. R. Thomas, at present in the bicycle manufacturing business at Toronto, Ontario, Canada ; O. F. Thomas ,and L. B. Thomas, both now in Cleveland, Ohio; and F. W. Thomas, in the railroad business in Memphis, Tennessee.
J. B. Thomas enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment and served in the Mexican war. He was a man of fine business perception and great
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activity, and while engrossed with heavy, pressing business duties, he never forgot the qualities that make a gentleman, in the best sense of that word. He was always an engaging man, gentle to his family and kind to all. He was a most thorough man in all his undertakings, and omitted no honorable opportunity that would contribute to success. All his life he had been a useful, successful man, and his death was a source of great regret.
C. C. Thomas, his son, became the successor of his father in the coal business. He has had charge of the First avenue mines ever since his father's death. He is an enterprising, industrious man, always having an eye to business.
F. H. RAGON.
No citizen of Evansville was more endeared to the business public, or had won a more enduring and deserved reputation for honest busi- ness methods and fair dealing and prime manhood than Mr. Ferdi- nand H. Ragon, a brief sketch of whose life is presented in this con- nection. No pen can be too sympathetic or too heroic to picture the man in the fullness he deserves or in the true, pure character he lived. His instincts, in the first place, were right and had been rightly trained. His full and conscious knowledge of humanity always led him to act justly and kindly toward every one. His broad, liberal spirit-so endowed by nature-considered men and their acts from the high standpoint of charity and forgiveness. His whole life was ex- emplary, as this all-too-brief biography will reveal.
Mr. Ragon's native town was Russellville, Kentucky, and the year of his nativity was 1826. There he received such education as country towns then afforded, and laid the basis, at least in some degree, for his subsequent successful business career. When quite a young man, indeed in his eighteenth year, he started out to discover what life had in store for him. Correct always in his habits and wants, the talent and services of such a young man did not wait long for recognition or employment. At Cadiz, Trigg county, Ky., he found employment as clerk in the general mercantile store of Abner R. Terry. On the death of Mr. Terry four years later, Mr. Ragon, by economy and thrift, had accumulated enough money to go into the general - mercantile business for himself. This venture was made in 1848, and he continued in it there till 1864. Fickle fortune never frowned upon him very long at a time, and these sixteen years of business for him- self in Cadiz brought him neat and satisfactory returns. He felt the
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need of a larger field for business, and he came to Evansville in 1864, in war times, when prices were fluctuating in the business thermome- ter among the hundreds, so to speak. In this new field he entered into the wholesale grocery business. Here in Evansville, on entering the wholesale grocery business, he associated with himself Mr. Ebe- nezer Dickey under the firm name of Ragon & Dickey. Four years afterward-that was in 1868-Capt. F. P. Carson took an interest in the firm, which now took the firm name of Ragon, Dickey & Carson. The latter gentleman disposed of his interest to Mr. E. G. Ragon, brother of Mr. F. H. Ragon, and retired in 1870. The firm name was
then changed to Ragon, Dickey & Ragon. Three years afterward Mr. Dickey disposed of his interest to the two brothers and withdrew, from which time on the business was conducted under the firm name of Ragon Brothers. They builded up a large trade iu Indiana, Illi- nois, Kentucky and Tennessee. Their punctuality, reliability and great desire to please those who dealt with them won for them not only an enviable place in business circles, but a splendid reputation for honesty and fair dealing. An eye always to business, they came at length to read the market fluctuations almost with prophetic insight and gave their customers the benefit of this superior skill. Of course, such great application to business must needs bring success. In their par- ticular class of business they were regarded as representative men, as commercial leaders, as setting the business pace. Said the Evansville Courier at the time of Mr. F. H. Ragon's death : "The deceased, the founder of the establishment, was a man of extraordinarily clear busi- ness qualifications, shrewdness and commercial tact possessed by few in Evansville."
So much for the life of this man in the "busy mart of trade." No one can be a successful business man without the requisite capital of geniality and kindness. Mr. F. H. Ragon possessed these happy qualities in a remarkable degree, and made it a rule of life to make no enemies if it could be avoided. As a result of such a high and beauti- ful course in life his friends were all who knew him. The inflexible realities of business had not hardened his nature and rendered him stony and unapproachable, but superior to such crystalizing influences, he seemed to grow only the more cordial and entertaining, like one smiling at the induratc haud of baffled fate. In his social family re- lations he was greatly beloved, and his home was one of the happiest. He was married twice. He was the father of three children by his first wife, whose death occurred in 1867. These children are Daniel S., Mallie (Mrs. Rosser S. Rock) and Addie (Mrs. T. M. Carothers.)
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He was married again in 1869, and to him was born out of this union a son named Claude.
As a christian Mr. Ragon respected and revered the profound teach- ings of the Bible. His great practical good sense would not allow him to entertain flimsy views leading away from the well-known truth of the "man of his counsel." Long years before, when a citizen of Cadiz, he united with the Baptist church, in which denomination he always retained his churchly relationship. However, being a warm friend of Rev. Dr. Martin, of Grace Presbyterian church -of which his wife was a member-he became a regular attendant on the services there in the latter part of his life. His religious convictions were deep and abiding.
After the death of Mr. F. H. Ragon the business was continued by E. G. Ragon and Daniel S. Ragon, son of the deceased. Mr. E. G. Ragon was born at Russellville, Ky., in -, and when a young man went to Cadiz, Ky., and entered into business with his brother. There he prospered. He married Miss Sallie Mckinney, of that town. He came to Evansville in 1869, and as previously stated, engaged in the wholesale grocery business with his brother. From that time on it was no longer a question of business prosperity, but a question of en- larging the volume of trade and extending the territory of their trans- actions. When the mantle of business fell on the shoulders of Mr. E. G. Ragon and nephew, it was pushed on with the same old nerve and vigor, and prosperity and satisfactory dividends were theirs.
Daniel S. Ragon was born at Cadiz, Ky., in 1857, and removed to Evansville with his father in 1864. His schooling was secured in the public schools of this city. In one capacity or another he has been connected with the firm of Ragon Brothers ever since the adoption of that name. He married Miss Eva Johnson, December, 1878.
As a concluding word it may be added that no wholesale grocery house in the city is more careful in filling and shipping its orders promptly, or carries on a larger volume of business than the firm of . Ragon Brothers. It is a cardinal business principle with them to please their customers, and therefore they never loose trade they have once secured.
THE SHANKLIN FAMILY.
A merchant's life usually is without positive incident. A mercantile career, however, is an expression of the force of character and intellect in him. It requires talent to succeed, and John Shanklin was a
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prosperous merchant. His life began near Derry, Donegal county, Ireland, on February 17, 1795. His father before him perished in the Irish rebellion in 1798. The son, named after his father, obtained the fragmentary education of an Irish farmer boy. When thirteen years old he was apprenticed in a general store in Donegal. After five years in the store, when eighteen, he sailed for the United States, and in New York entered a wholesale hardware establishment. Three years afterward he became a salesman for a hardware dealer at Frank- fort, Ky. The accidental loss of a foot at this time necessitated his adoption of the profession of a school teacher, which he followed for three years, most of the time at Shelbyville (Ky.) and vicinity. He then entered the auction store of Ormsby, at Louisville, as a clerk, and in a short time young Shanklin was placed as manager of a branch house at Newcastle, Ky. On the failure of Ormsby, the young man purchased a stock of goods at Shelbyville, and one Moffatt was his partner. In six months they removed to Evansville-December 3, 1823. But their stock of dry goods was too large for the new loca- tion, and Moffatt took a half and located at Cynthiana, Ind., while Shanklin continued in business here with the other half. Their part- nership was dissolved in 1827, and Shanklin continued the business alone till 1832; then to 1837 as Shanklin & Co .; then under other firm styles, until he retired from business on January 1, 1872. His accounts on earth closed Jannary 11, 1877. He was au active, leading member of Walnut Street Presbyterian church. He was a man of serupulous integrity, valuing his honor and credit above earthly esti- mate, and reflecting moral principles in his daily life.
This is the first early ancestor of five generations who have lived in this city up to the present moment. Edith Wilson-nee Bradford- the seventh generation from William Bradford, who came over in the historic Mayflower, was the grandmother of John Shanklin's children; Major Bezaleel Howe, of Revolutionary fame, was their great grand- uncle ; their mother was Philura Fillmore French. The names of these children are James Maynard Shanklin, Malvina French Shank- lin, John Gilbert Shanklin, George William Shanklin, and Osborne Henry Shanklin.
James Maynard Shanklin in early life disclosed marked mental acumen. The law was his profession, and at the time Fort Sumter was fired upon he was prosecuting attorney of the circuit court. When the news of the bombardment reached Evansville, it aroused the peo- ple and temporarily suspended business. The patriotic young prose- cutor, pale and excited, in his tragic style, addressed the grand jury in
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these words : "There is no more business for the grand jury to-day, and with the consent of the court, Judge Parrett, I feel it my duty to request that the grand jury and the conrt adjourn. At this moment matters of grave importance await every patriot. Fort Sumter has been fired upon, the flag dishonored, and all loyal eyes and hearts are turned in that direction. I, for one, shall enter the conflict in defense of my country's flag." And his army record is a brilliant one. As lieutenant-colonel of the 42d Indiana volunteer infantry, he took part in the battles of Wartrace, Perryville and Stone River. He was wounded at Perryville, an exploding shell tearing away part of the scalp. The wound was dressed, he returned to the fight. He com- manded his regiment at Stone River, and was captured while leading a forlorn hope in the last day of the battle. After confinement in prison at Atlanta and Libby-five months in the latter place and two in the former-he was exchanged. After his return home from the war, he died suddenly of acute laryngitis He left a widow and son but two years old, who is now a member of the firm of Shanklin & King, brokers and real estate agents, Chicago*
Malvina French Shanklin married John Marshal Harlan, now a justice of the supreme court of the United States, appointed by Presi- dent Hayes. The date of her marriage was December 23, 1856. Their children and grand children were: Edith Shanklin Harlan, who became the wife of Frank Linus Child, of Worcester, Massachu- setts. She died leaving a daughter Edith Harlan Child, who lives with her grandparents, Justice and Mrs. Harlan. Rev. Richard Daven- port Harlan, of Rochester, New York, married Margaret Prouty, of Geneva, New York. James Shanklin Harlan is an unmarried lawyer of Chicago. John Maynard Harlan is a lawyer also of Chicago, and he married Miss Elizabeth Flagg, of Yonkers, New York. They have one daughter, Elizabeth, five years old.
John Gilbert Shanklin was educated at Kenyon college, Gambier, Ohio, and afterwards took a course at the university of Berlin, Ger- many. He was elected secretary of the state of Indiana in 1878, and served from 1879 to 1881. He was defeated for re-election in 1880. This is the only public office he has ever held. At present he is the owner and editor of the Courier, and his editorials show critical analysis and broad reading. They havethe polish and tone of a close student of the humanities, and are widely quoted for their profound penetration into obstruse economical questions. Every editorial shows ripe scholarship and skillful thinking. He married Miss Gertrude
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Arms Avery, and they have two children, Susanna Avery Shanklin and Malvina Harlan Shanklin.
George William Shanklin was the fourth child of John and Philura Fillmore Shanklin. He was always associated with his brother, John Gilbert, in the business of the Courier. He bought the Courier in 1866, soon after it was established. John Gilbert was then in Enrope, traveling and attending the Berlin university. He returned in 1868, and the brothers sold, in 1869, to Messrs. Lauenstein. But in 1874 they repurchased the plant, since which time they have controlled it. George William died a bachelor in Washington City, D. C., February 6, 1897. His remains were cremated and the ashes scattered on the graves of his parents in this city.
Osborne Henry Shanklin died at a little over the age of four years.
WILLIAM REILLY.
William Reilly, born in Drummond, county Armagh, Ireland, August 12, 1813, came to America in 1838, and he came directly to Evansville. He entered the postoffice as a clerk under F. E. Goodsell, which position he filled until the year 1840, when he opened a whole- sale and retail grocery on the corner of Main and Second streets, hav- ing formed a partnership with his cousin, James Reilly, under the firm name of "J. & W. Reilly." This business was carried on successfully for several years, nntil the death of James Reilly in 1854, after which William Reilly engaged in the commission business until his death in 1872. Mr. Reilly married Mary French Willson, who survived him many years, her death having occurred little more than a year ago. Their children were: Mary Osborne, who died in infancy ; Edith Howe ; John Shanklin, and Anna Hazelton.
Mr. Reilly was a man of quiet and unostentatious manner, simple habits and large intelligence, He was a member of Trinity M. E. church, and his daily walk and conversation was that of a thoroughly honest and honorable man. No higher encominm can be written upon any man's life. It is the one attribute of humanity that litts mankind to heaven.
THE EDMOND FAMILY.
One of the most enterprising and prosperous original families of this county was the Edmond family. George Edmond, the father of
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numerous race, came from Germany and settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and about 1808 settled in Muhlenburgh county, Ky. The family eame to Evansville in 1815. There were five sons and two daughters born to George Edmond, as follows: John, Thomas, George, William, Michael, Ann and Elizabeth. Michael was the only son born in Evansville. John was born in 1800. Frank was a son by a second wife.
When the family came to Evansville in 1815 they probably came in a flatboat, on which was a house in which they lived. They settled at a a point five miles below Evansville, at what has all along since been known as the John Edmond homestead. John Edmond, being the oldest of the family, soon began life for himself, and he made a pros- perous career of it. He was among the first who established a wood- yard and regularly furnished wood to steamboats. As soon as the wood was eleared from the land and sold he cultivated the virgin soil and it yielded abundantly. The primitive crop of trees was converted into money and the crop from the rich alluvial soil yielded a satisfactory profit. He secured in time about 1,800 acres of fine land. The com- petition then, before the days when coal was known and used, was active and sharp, and barges were laden with wood and towed about to intereept steamboats and supply them before they reached Edmond's woodyard. He pushed his business, and in the end became a wealthy man. He married Miss Talitha Sirkles, and to them two children were born. The son died in infancy. Susan was born May 9, 1826, in Vanderburgh county, Ind., and was married to Alexander Maddux February 14, 1850. Mrs. Talitha (Sirkles) Edmond died April 13, 1858. And John Edmond married a second time, and Miss Sophia Burgdorf became his wife on September 20, 1859. To them were born six children. The living ones are John, Mrs. Augusta Kamp and Mrs. Ollie Varner. After a long, aetive and useful life John Edmond, Sr., died October 10, 1876.
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