A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 90

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 90

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Astor, Lenex and Tilder Foundations, 1909

Calvin Moon

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

years in Colorado, and then removed to New York, where for twenty years he was em- ployed as a dry goods salesman. In 1873, with his father and brothers, he established a retail plumbing business in South Bend, which, from the first, met with a high de- gree of success. In 1889, however, the char- acter of the enterprise was changed and the business was incorporated under the name of the South Bend Pump Company and later the Stephenson Manufacturing Com- pany, which is still engaged in the manufac- ture of automatic wood turnings. In the year mentioned C. B. Stephenson returned to South Bend to reside, and, with his broth- ers. A. H., B. C. and F. A. Stephenson. be- came identified with the A. C. Staley Manu- facturing Company. During the past four years the business has been entirely in the hands of the Stephenson brothers, and, un- der their enterprising and skillful manage- ment, the establishment has become one of the leading industries of South Bend and one of the best known underwear manufac- tories in the country. The subject of this sketch is also president of the Stephenson Manufacturing Company.

While a resident of New York Mr. Stephen- son was united in marriage to Miss Ada Pres- ton, a native of that city, and they have one daughter, Bertha. Mr. Stephenson is a pub- lie spirited, progressive citizen, honored for his integrity in business, his faithfulness to family and friends and his absolute fidelity to every trust which he has ever assumed.

CALVIN MOON, superintendent of the South Bend public schools, is of Scotch-English an- cestry. He is the son of James and Mary (James) Moon, and was born May 16th, 1849, on his father's farm near the village of Lake- ville. St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood. He acquired his edneation in the district schools and the V. M. & F. college of Valparaiso, Indiana, where a severe illness from pneumonia brought his student- ship to a close at that institution two months before the end of his third year.

After leaving college, Mr. Moon tanght school for two years, then joined the engineer- ing corps engaged in making the preliminary surveys for the Chicago & Canada Southern Railroad, now known as the Wabash. This was merely a temporary engagement. however, for his taste tended in a different direction, inelining him to educational work. The op- portunity to gratify this desire came to him

in June, 1877, when he was elected superin- tendent of the schools of St. Joseph county, there being nine candidates in the field for the position at that time. His administration of the school affairs of the county was so emi- nently satisfactory that he was re-elected seven times to that position, under varying political conditions, five of which were by unanimous vote. Mr. Moon's experience of fourteen years and one month in this capacity made for him a reputation as a superintend- ent of schools that was scarcely limited by the boundaries of the state.

It is due to Mr. Moon's industry, progres- siveness and tact that St. Joseph county has the distinction of being the first in the state -(a) to have a uniformity of text books throughout the country; (b) to adopt a uni- form course of study and grade the country schools ; (e) to establish a minimum salary (of forty dollars a month) for teachers in the country schools and abolish the ancient cus- tom of "boarding around"; (d) to organize and maintain a County Teachers' Library As- soeiation. Through his personal efforts the Association was organized in 1884 with Mr. Charles H. Bartlett as president and Mr. Moon as librarian. The library, which is still in a flourishing condition, under the careful supervision of County Superintendent Wil- liam Clem, has several hundred volumes, largely of a professional nature, and has prov- en a potent factor in the uplift of the teach- ing profession in the county.

In June, 1891, Mr. Moon's abilities were recognized by his appointment to the superin- tendency of the South Bend publie schools. the position which today he holds to the credit of himself and satisfaction of the public, and through his entire inenmbeney, covering a period of sixteen years. his steps have been steadily forward. Resigning the superin- tendeney of the county schools. July 1. 1891. to accept the superintendeney of the city schools, he applied to the latter the same intel- ligence, zeal and energy that had brought him distinction in the former position.

The growth of the city schools during Mr. Moon's superintendeney is clearly indicated in the figures showing that the enrollment for the school year ending in June, 1891, was 3,046, while for the current year (1907) it is 6,266. The number of teachers in 1891 was 61, for this year there are 202; and during the sixteen years ten commodious ward school buildings and a high school have been erected.

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

additions have been made to two, doubling their capacity, and one of the old buildings reconstructed and made as good as new. In addition to these improvements, a thirteen room ward school and a manual training shop are being built.

Mr. Moon's domestic life is as well ordered and happy as his educational work. He was married December 21, 1876. to Miss Cynthia A. Stonehill, a native of the county, and a daughter of Daniel and Adaline (Brothers) Stonehill. With the exception of a daughter, who died in infancy, his family is intact. He has five sons, James S., Otto R., Ray E., Clar- ence C., and Charles S., all engaged in useful occupations, or in school preparing themselves for the serious duties of life. The family oc- cupies a pleasant home at 518 West Colfax avenue, conveniently near Mr. Moon's office in the high school building, where he fre- quently may be found in the evening prepar- ing his work for the following day.

Mr. Moon is a man of strong convictions and broad intelligence. He has methodical habits of work and throws all the energy of his ardent nature into the task of promoting the interests of the schools of South Bend. In him the pupils of the schools have a zeal- ous guardian, the parents a trusty friend, the teachers a loyal and unselfish helper, and the board of education a capable. earnest and ef- ficient official.

E. A. MORSE. Mr. E. A. Morse, the presi- dent of the South Bend Brick Company, one of the leading institutions of the city and county, has made for himself a place in the industrial activities of life and gained recog- nition for intrinsic worth of character. He is also numbered among the younger business men of his adopted city, for his birth oc- curred on the 21st of May. 1874, in Durand, Wisconsin, his parents being Hobart D. and Elizabeth A. (Dorwin) Morse, both of whom were born in St. Lawrence county, New York, and both are living at the present time. Of their seven children two are de- ceased.

E. A. Morse was but a babe of six months at the time of the removal of his parents from Wisconsin to New York, and in St. Lawrence county he grew to mature years. receiving an excellent educational training in its public schools and in an academy and business college at Ogdensburg, that state. Thus well equipped for the activities of life, he came to South Bend at the age of

eighteen years and secured employment with the old South Bend Construction Company in the capacity of a bookkeeper, while later on he was made the manager of the South Bend Brick Exchange, conducting its busi- ness for some years. Finally purchasing the brick plant of the John II. Shank estate, Mr. Morse continued the business until the or- ganization of the South Bend Brick Com- pany in 1903, which was launched with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and he was made the president and manager, his pres- ent positions. He is also the agent for the Hydraulic Press Brick Company through northern Indiana and western Michigan, which necessitates his being on the road about half the time. Their yards are located on Portage avenue, and the output of the plant is about sixty-five thousand brick a day.

The marriage of Mr. Morse was celebrated in 1898, Edith Dunnahoo then becoming his wife, and she is a daughter of Griffin Dun- nahoo, of South Bend. Two children, a son and a daughter, have been born to them, Ed- ward and Phoebe. Mr. Morse holds member- ship relations with the Elks and the Odd Fellows of South Bend. and he is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He is a man of enterprise, liberal views and sterling worth, and is thoroughly identified" in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the city and county which have been his home throughout his entire business life.

A. D. BAKER has been so closely identi- fied with the interests of South Bend that the city feels a just pride in claiming him among her citizens. He stands to-day at the head of one of the leading industrial concerns of the county, being secretary and treasurer of the South Bend Chilled Plow Company, and his prestige has been won through marked executive force, keen discrimination. sound judgment and unfaltering energy. His birth occurred in Decatur, Illinois, on the 25th of April, 1856. His father. George W. Baker, was a native of Pennsylvania, but when only six years old was brought by his brother. A. S. Baker, to South Bend, where he remained until he had reached his twenty- seventh year, going thence to Decatur. Illi- nois. In 1876. however, he returned to South Bend, and this city continued as the scene of his operations until his busy life was ended in death. To him came the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the industrial interests of this section of the

THE NE: YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Aster, Lelex and Tilden Four uations. 1909

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

state, for he was one of the organizers of the South Bend Chilled Plow Company, which has attained a wide reputation over all portions of the United States. A man of distinctive and forceful individuality, he left his impress upon the business world, and upon the ladder of his own building he climbed to prominence and prosperity. Mr. Baker married Catherine Dewey, of Vermont; and they were the parents of three children, but only two are now living, A. D. and his sister, who is now Mrs. Oren, of South Bend. One sister became the wife of J. C. Birdsell, of this city, and is now deceased.

A. D. Baker, after receiving an excellent educational training, assisted his father in or- ganizing the South Bend Chilled Plow Com- pany in 1875. and has since been connected with it as secretary and treasurer. This in- stitution has received world-wide renown. and in conducting its affairs and enlarging its scope Mr. Baker has so directed his ef- forts that the business interests have grown apace with the progress which dominates this country.

He was married in 1883 to Bessie Hinds, of Madison, Indiana. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Baker is a member of the order of Elks, and was also one of the organizers of the Indiana Club, of which he was president for nine years. His religions connection is with St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church.

GEORGE S. HUNT. In the business eireles of South Bend the name of George S. Hunt is well known as the president and treasurer of the Hunt Brothers' Manufacturing Com- pany. located at 332 and 334 South Scott

street. He was born in Dodge county, Wis- consin. April 4, 1859, a son of W. D. and Diantha (Dunham) Hunt, both of whom claimed the Empire State as the common- wealth of their nativity. They, however, be- eame early pioneers of Wisconsin, taking up their abode there in 1850, where the father was well known as a wagon maker in Bran- don. They now maintain their residence in South Bend.

George S. Hunt, the second child in order of birth in his parents' family. spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity, receiving his educational training in its publie schools, and he there learned the painter's trade. On the 22d of May. 1880, he became a resident of South Bend. where he was afterward employed by the Studebaker Brothers and the Olivers,

while in the fall of 1892 he became associated with his brother. W. I. Hunt, in the manu- facturing and repairing business. This as- sociation continued for eleven years, and at its close in 1905 Mr. Hunt purchased his brother's interest and reorganized the com- pany, which was always known as the Hunt Brothers' Manufacturing Company, and of which he is the president and treasurer. The mannfactory furnishes employment to about twelve men, and they are extensively en- gaged in the manufacture and repairing of buggies and other vehicles. Mr. Hunt is a man of excellent business and executive abil- ity, of keen discrimination, sound judgment and capable management, and he enjoys the confidence and regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact through busi- ness dealings.

In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hunt and Miss Emma MeBroom, she being the daughter of William and Annaliza MeBroom. Two sons have been born of this union, Charles E. and Russell G. Mr. Hunt supports the Republican party where national issnes are involved, but at local elections casts his ballot independent of party ties. For twenty years he has been a member of the Masonic order, and for eight years has had membership relations with the Modern Woodmen. The principal years of his life having been spent in St. Joseph county, he is well known among its citizens and is held in uniform regard.

. DANIEL GREENE, president of the South Bend Foundry Company, is one of the ven- erable and honored fathers of St. Joseph county, and his wife has the distinction of being the oldest continuous resident of St. Joseph county. Their homelike and commo- dions residence on South Lafayette street is therefore the headquarters for many of the old-timers who have watched with pride the commercial, industrial and civie growth of their town.

Daniel Greene is a native of Greene county. Ohio. the date of his birth being December 15, 1818. His parents were John and Nancy N. (Jackson) Greene and they were both na- tives of Delaware. Of the fourteen children in the family, twelve reached manhood and womanhood and all settled in St. Joseph county. Daniel was the seventh child, and was fourteen years of age when he came to the county with the other members of the family. He was reared in Greene township

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in the western part of the county, and re- mained on the family homestead until 1866. His father died in 1838 and his mother in 1844, and he continued to reside there after his marriage in 1849 until the year named. In 1866 he settled in South Bend to assume the position of deputy county treasurer, un- der his brother Ezekiel. Later he became connected with the South Bend Chilled Plow Company, of which he was treasurer for many years. In 1886 he severed his con- nection with that establishment and spent about six months with his family in Cali- fornia, since which time he has been virtually retired from active business, although for the sake of employment he has been somewhat identified with fire insurance.

It is difficult to realize that Mr. Greene has been a resident of St. Joseph county for nearly seventy-five years. His first presiden- tial vote was cast for Martin Van Buren in 1840, and he has since voted in St. Joseph county at every national election. In 1844, 1848 and 1852 he supported the Free Soil ticket, and in 1856 he assisted in the organ- ization of the Republican party. Sinee the founding of the party he has never aban- doned it: on the contrary, has been an en- thusiastic advocate of its principles, although he has never sought publie office or other preferment through the organization. Mr. Greene is a leader in the work of the Presby- terian church, and is the oldest member of that religious body in South Bend. He has long been one of its elders. and has repre- sented the church in several of its general assemblies.

Tn 1849 Daniel Greene was married to Mary Leeper, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Leeper, his wife being born in Darke county, Ohio. in 1829. When she was about six months of age the family came to St. Joseph county, in which she has since continuously resided. Her parents were among the very first pioneers of the county. coming, in fact, before it was organized or before South Bend was platted as a town. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Greene three are still living: Elizabeth, widow of Dr. Kettering, now living in the home of her parents: Hor- ace, proprietor and manager of the South Bend Foundry Company. and Edna, wife of William C. Warner of South Bend.

GEORGE CUTTER. The men of deeds are the men the world delights to honor. and among those who have stood as distinguished

types of the world's workers and who have introducd new eras of thought by inven- tions of great utility no one is more worthy of honorable mention than George Cutter, the president of the George Cutter Company, patentees of electrical specialties. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 13, 1853, and in that city his father, George T. Cutter, also had his nativity. The family his- tory, however, is traced back to the mother country of England, in Northampton, but as early as 1630 representatives of the family came to America and established their home here, where they have ever since been lead- ing and honored residents. George T. Cnt- ter followed the miller's trade, becoming the well known proprietor of the Mahogany Mill. His wife bore the maiden name of Abbie E. Blaisdell, and was a native of Milton, New Hampshire. but of north of France de- scent. They became the parents of four sons, all of whom grew to useful manhood.

George Cutter. the third son in order of birth. was reared and received his educa- tional training in his native city of Boston, and there he also prepared for his life's work. He began the electrical business at the early age of sixteen years, and after com- pleting his apprenticeship he spent two years in Europe, those of 1881-2, in order to fur- ther perfect himself in his chosen occupa- tion. Returning home, he became associated with the Bell Telephone Company at the time of its organization, and later as its rep- resentative he spent one year in Russia. During two and a half years Mr. Cutter was the chief engineer for the Thomson-Houston Electric Light Company, while for six years he had charge of their testing rooms. At this time Mr. Cutter decided to engage in the electrical business for himself, and choosing Chicago as his field of endeavor he engaged in business there in 1889, but in 1905 trans- ferred his residence and place of activity to South Bend, where he is engaged in the formation and manufacture of outdoor light- ing supplies. His business now extends to all parts of the known world, and at the present time he furnishes employment to about sixty operatives. In this age of large enterprise and marked intellectual energy the promi- nent and successful men are those whose abil- ities, persistence and courage lead them into large undertakings. and it is these qualities that have made Mr. Cutter a leader in the business world and won him a name in con-

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Astor, Lonex and Tilden Foundations, 1909

ELECTRIC

C AND MFG.

COMPANY.

Wood Electric and Manufacturing Company

THE

ORK IMARY

Aster, > s) tou Tildan Fod Sations. 150g

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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.

nection with industrial interests that is widely known.

In 1888 Mr. Cutter married Miss Inez Gass, whose father, John Gass, was born in Waynetown, Indiana. Mr. Cutter is a mem- ber of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. In his business relations he is thoroughly upright and conscientious, con- siderate and courteous in his personal and social contact, and is at all times an earnest, patriotie citizen.

SAMUEL SHEPARD PERLEY. One of the most prominent of South Bend's business men is Samuel S. Perley. His connection with many of the leading corporations of this eity makes him too well known to need intro- duction to the readers of this volume, but as a business man and citizen we would preserve the record of his career among a people who have learned to respect and honor him. He was born in Portland, Maine, on the 8th of October, 1861, a son of J. H. and Fannie (Smith) Perley. The father was long a busi- ness man in Maine, and was the first presi- dent of the Board of Trade of Portland. In 1869 he removed with his family to Detroit, Michigan, where he was largely interested in the lumber business until his retirement from trade relations, and his death occurred in South Bend the 2d of December, 1869. His wife, who was a native of Newburyport, New Hampshire, survived him for many years, passing away in 1886.

Their son and the subject of this review, Samuel S. Perley, on leaving school entered the wagon works of Alexis Coquillard in an official capacity, and as the years have grown apace he has risen step by step until he now occupies a high position in this large con- cern. For many years he has held an ex- ecutive position therein, and since the death of Mr. A. Coquillard, the founder of the business, has been its trustee and manager. His interests in South Bend, however, are many and varied. for he is also president of the Perley Lumber Company, a director of the Citizens' National Bank, a stockholder in the Bissell Plow Company and also con- nected with other large enterprises. Thus to Mr. Perley has come the attainment of a dis- tinguished position in connection with large industries. A man of distinctive and force- ful individuality, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world, while there has been no shadow of wrong or in- justice to mar his career.

The marriage of Mr. Perley and Miss Lil- lian Casady, a daughter of W. L. Casady, was celebrated in 1892. The father is a well known business man and an honored citizen of South Bend. Three children have been born to bless this union, namely, Margaret, William Casady and Harold Otis.

WILLIAM F. WOOD. Among the names of the men who are distinguishing themselves for the possession in an eminent degree of those qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to publie stability is found that of William F. Wood. As the record of a young man it is one of which he may be justly proud, for it is distinguished by the most substantial qual- ities of character. He was born in Ross- ville, Indiana, May 7, 1876, a son of Rev. Deloss M. and Emma (Farraw) Wood, who make their home in Hammond, Indiana. In their family were but two children, a son and a daughter, and the latter, Louise, is at home. The father is a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in that capacity he has traveled over much of this country.

William F. Wood, their only son, attended De Pauw University for four years, pursuing the classical course, and during a similar period he was a newspaper correspondent, his work in that line taking him over many parts of the world and identifying him with the Spanish-American war, where he served on the battleship Iowa in the capacity of ship's yeoman. After the elose of the con- flict he was associated with the "San Fran- cisco Evening Report" until in February, 1900, when he went to Lebanon. Boone county, Indiana, there maintaining his resi- dence until his removal to South Bend in September, 1900. His first association in this city was with the Sandage Steel Skein Company, with whom he remained until in February, 1904, and in July of that year purchased a half interest in the Economy Electric Company. Afterwards Mr. Wood bought the remaining stock and the firm name was changed to the Wood Eleetrie and Manufacturing Company. The company gives employment to about twenty men, and is one of the leading electrical manufacturing enterprises of the city. He is a man of dis- tinetive and forceful individuality, and un- der his direction the Wood Electrie and Man- ufacturing Company has increased its busi- ness three hundred per cent. Although one

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of the younger representatives of the busi- ness interests of South Bend, he has gained a brilliant success, the just reward of meri- torious, honorable effort, which commands the respect of all.

On the 3d of July, 1900, Mr. Wood was united in marriage to Blanch Lee Daily, a daughter of American C. Daily, a prominent banker and financier and ex-state auditor. Mrs. Wood was born in Lebanon, Indiana, there receiving her education in its grammar and high schools, and she is also a talented musician. They have two children, Mary Daily and Deloss Calvin. Mr. Wood has in every way proven himself a public spirited citizen, and he possesses the public confidence to a high degree.

IIENRY F. ELBEL. No name figures more conspicuously or is mentioned with greater honor on the pages of the history of St. Jo- seph county than the Elbel family. What the Olivers and Studebakers have been to the industrial life of South Bend, the Elbels have been to the musical life. They are a family of musicians, and in the early days made this city famous in the musical world. There were six brothers of the first family of Elbels associated with South Bend, Er- hardt, Christian, Lorenz, Wolf, John and Henry, and all were fine musicians, while Christian won more than a local reputation as a composer. Lorenz, the father of him whose name introduces this review, was for more than half a century a director of the orchestra which still bears his name and was also a leader of the Elbel Military Band. He had six sons,-Henry, Herman. Richard. Robert. Fred and Louis, all of whom have inherited their father's musical ability to a high degree. and Louis has gained high hon- ors both at home and abroad. At Leipsic he was one of the very few Americans to ap- pear as soloist, and made a record of which he and his family may well feel proud. The brothers are proprietors of a large piano store, and all are enterprising. worthy citi- zens. worthy children of a worthy sire.

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A history of St. Joseph County, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 90

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 826

Author: Howard, Timothy Edward, 1837-1916
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826