A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 146

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 146
USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 146

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

OBERT J. CLARK, son of James and Jane (Foster) Clark, was born in the north of Ireland, March 17, 1838, and was four years old when his parents emigrated to America. They first settled in Philadelphia, Pa., where Robert at- tended school till the age of ten years, when the family again removed to Ohio and settled on a farm near the suburbs of Springfield, in which city Mr. Clark completed his education, and at the age of fifteen began to learn the trade of baker, but after serving an apprentice- ship of three years he was compelled on ac- count of failing health to relinquish his trade and engage in farm work in Preble county. He was thus engaged, working by the month, when the news came of the fall of Sumter. He answered the first call for troops, enlisting in the spring of 1861, for three years, in com- pany E, of the Fifth Ohio volunteer cavalry, which formed a part of the army of the Ten- nessee, and participated in all the decisive battles of that period, chief amongst which were Corinth, Lookout Mountain, Big Shanty,

and all the numerous engagements of the At- lantic campaign, in which the cavalry regi- ments were engaged, almost daily, for many weeks. In the battle of Corinth, Miss., Mr. Clark was severely wounded in a hand to hand conflict with the enemy, being struck with a clubbed musket across the head and chest, which resulted in a severe wound of the head and the fracture of two ribs. He was left on the field for dead, but was afterward rescued by his comrades. Mr. Clark held the rank of commissary sergeant and performed the duties of quartermaster sergeant. He was discharged in the early part of 1865, near the close of the war, by reason of the expiration of his term of service.

On his return he worked at Xenia, Ohio, for a time, and came to Union City, Ind., in 1868, and here opened a bakery and confec- tionery. By industry and careful attention to business Mr. Clark has been successful. About 1878 he purchased his present site on north Columbia street near the post office, and on it erected a substantial two-story brick bus- iness block, in which for the last sixteen years he has conducted a large and prosperous bus- iness. Mr. Clark has supplied a large portion of the residents of the city with wholesome bread and has built up a thriving restaurant business. In this work five persons are em- ployed, including the delivery of bread and pastries to all parts of the city.

Mr. Clark was married, in 1865, to Miss Anna Hall a daughter of William Hall of Union City; of this marriage there are two sons and one daughter-James William, who now takes a half interest in the bakery; Jane Ann, wife of William H. Greble, first clerk of the Big Four railroad company's office, Cairo, Ill .; and Robert Clark, Jr., student of pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pa.

Mr. Clark is a member of Union City lodge, No. 401, F. & A. M., chapter No. 94,

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and Muncie commandery, No. 18. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. encampment, and for the past fifteen years has been a trustee of the subordinate lodge. He also belongs to the K. of P. and is captain of its uniform rank, and is a member of the G. A. R. Mr. Clark was the organizer of the first fire department of Union City and devoted five years to its management and is still an active member. Mr. Clark, like his ancestors across the water, is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he acceptably fills the office of trustee.

ILLIAM COMMONS, M. D., was born at White Water, Wayne coun- ty, Ind., September 26, 1836. His parents were American born Irish, and both were natives of Wayne county, Ind. His father was a farmer, and the son was kept on a farm until eighteen years of age, attend- ing the district school. The father died in May, 1851, and the mother in 1854, when the farm was sold and the family separated. He taught school the following winter and sum- mer. In October, 1855, he began clerking in a store at White Water, and continued until the spring of 1858. In the fall of that year he commenced attending a select school at White Water, kept by Milton Hollingsworth, studying the higher mathematics and begin- ning Latin. In February, 1860, he entered the scientific course of Oberlin college, Ober- lin, Ohio; but after six months his presence was found to be incompatible with the good of that institution, and he was suddenly graduated -that is, withdrew to avoid expulsion. He then went south, intending to teach in Ten- nessee, but found the probabilities of war be- tween north and south so great that he decided not to remain. Returning north, he entered the medical department of Michigan university,

at Ann Arbor, as a student of R. G. Brandon, M. D., of White Water, Ind. He attended one full term of lectures, giving special atten- tion to practical anatomy, and working four months in the dissecting room. He returned the ist of April, 1861, and was enlisted in July, as private in company I, Sixteenth Indiana volunteers. He was detailed for spe- cial duty in the regimental hospital, and served in the capacity of medical cadet until the regi- ment was mustered out of service in 1862. Then he returned to his preceptor's office, and continued reading medicine until March, 1863, when he entered the Medical college of Ohio, where he graduated July 6 following. Prior to this he was resident physician of St. John's Hospital for Invalids, a hospital kept by the Sisters of Charity, of which the celebrated Sister Anthony was superior. After grad- uating, he entered the Commercial, now the Cincinnati hospital, as house surgeon, being appointed to that position from the graduating class.

At the same time he entered the hospital he made an application to Gov. Morton, for appointment as assistant surgeon of Indiana volunteers, but not receiving the position soon enough, he wrote to the secretary of the navy, and received permission from him to appear before a medical examining board for appoint- ment as assistant surgeon in the United States navy. He resigned his position in the hospi- tal after a service of two months and reported to the board of medical examiners, at the Naval asylum, Philadelphia, September 10, 1863, and was dismissed by them, October 26, 1863. He was appointed as assistant surgeon in the United States navy October 26, 1863, and re- ported to Admiral Paulding, commanding Brooklyn navy yard, for duty on board the receiving ship North Carolina November 28, 1863, and was transferred to the United States flag-ship Hartford, and saw his first sea

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service in 1864 with Farragut. He was assist - ant surgeon of the Hartford during 1864, par- ticipating in the battle of Mobile bay, being on duty on the berth deck, and though his nurses and assitants were all killed, and twice during the battle being the only one left able to keep his feet, he came off unhnrt. The Hartford returned north in December, 1864, was put out of commission, and Assistant Sur- geon Commons, was given two weeks' leave of absence, from December 20. He returned home, and at the expiration of his leave was orderek to New York, to take passage for Port Royal, S. C., for duty on board the United States steamer Patapsco, a single turret moni- tor. On the way from Richmond, Ind., to New York, a railroad accident delayed his ar- rival twelve hours and he lost his passage in the steamer. This detained him one week, during which time the Patapsco ran on a torpe- do, and was lost, with all on board. His or- ders was changed to the Passaic, which he joined in February, 1865, and in May follow- ing he was ordered to the Pacific squadron for duty on board the flag-ship Lancaster, in June, 1865, and soon after was detached for 0 special duty to the Saginaw, to cruise in search of the privateer Florida, which was destroying our whaling fleet in the North Pacific. He was ordered to Panama in Nov- ember, 1895. to rejoin the Lancaster, but the office of United States consul for that port having become vacant, he was detailed to special duty in the consul's office, aud as special inspector of customs, ad interim, for that place.

During this time he witnessed a revolution in the local government. Upon the arrival of the new consul he served on the St. Marys in Panama bay, and was then ordered to Callao, in Peru, to take charge of the United States hospital ship, Fredonia. During this period he witnessed the bombardment of Callao by

the Spanish fleet. In June, 1866, he was transferred to the United States steamer Suwanee, and with her remained cruising on the coast of South and Central America and Mexico until May, 1867, when he was detached and ordered to the United States. He landed in New York June 2, and reached home two days later. Four days thereafter he received orders from the navy department to repair to Philadelphia and prepare for a three years' cruise in the Asiastic squadron. Upon this he proceeded to Philadelphia and tendered his resignation, which was accepted July 24, 1867. He settled in the practice of his profession in his native town of White Water, and remained until January, 1870, when he moved to Brad- ford, Ohio, there continuing until May, 1873, when he removed to Union City, Randolph county, Ind., of which place he is still a resi- dent, practicing medicine an surgery. He was married January 1, 1865, to Miss Lydia J. Starbuck, a schoolmate and daughter of his guardian. They have two children: Edward B., born March 31, 1869; and Mary Elsie, born September 23, 1877. The doctor is still practicing medicine and surgery: is also con- nected with Masonic lodge, Turpen lodge, No. 401, chapter 94, royal arch; was eight years master and fourteen years high priest of Union City chapter; five years chairman for foreign correspondence of the grand lodge of Indiana.

HARLES J. GUNCKEL, son of Philip D. and Sarah (Shudder) Gunckel, was born in Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, November 11, 1861. His great-grandfather laid out the village of Germantown, Ohio, and the family has resided there for four generations. The Gunckels and the Shudders were originally from Pennsylvania. Mr. Gunckel's father

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was a skillful mechanic, being master of several skilled trades, and followed at different periods of his life carpentering, coopering, and masonry. He and his wife are both living well advanced in years at Germantown. They are parents of five children, as follows: Ellen, wife of Simon Snurr, resides in Mary- land; Ida is the wife of George Hein, a farmer of Montgomery county, Ohio; Charles J. is the subject of this sketch; Edwin is a baker at Germantown, and Maud is wife of Frank Bailey, of Germantown, Ohio.

Charles J. Gunckel received a common school education at home and started out to earn his own living at the age of twelve years. He worked by the month on the farm and at whatever he could find to do until he reached the age of eighteen, when he learned the trade of baker with George W. Bauchun. After one year's careful attention to the business, he was a competent workman and continued with his old employer two years. He came to Union City, the first time, in 1884 and worked eighteen months in the bakery of R. J. Clark, after which he went to Galion, Ohio, where he worked as a journeyman. In 1890 he re- turned to Union City and purchased his pres- ent popular bakery and residence, on Colum- bia street, of C. W. White, where he has since continued and during the past four years has built up a large and prosperous business in all lines, including a bakery, which distri- butes it daily products by a delivery wagon to all parts of the city, a well stocked confection- ery, restaurant, and lunch counter, and em- ploys four persons in the apartments.

Mr. Gunckel was married, in 1883, to Miss Lucy E. Spring, a daughter of Charles and Amanda (Carpenter) Spring, of Union City. Of this union there have been born three chil- dren: Earl B., Grace and Don. Mr. Gunckel is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Golden Eagle, and the Royal Arcanum.

He is also a consistent member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. In business he is active, obliging, and reliable, and, having made his own capital, is a good representative of the self made business man of trade.

J OHN W. HOKE, son of Abram and Sarah (Sennett) Hoke, was born near Bellville, Richland county, Ohio, March 3, 1841. The father, Abram Hoke, was born in Paradise, Pa., moved to Rich- land county, in 1828, and removed to Union City in 1853. He was married to Sarah Sen- nett in 1840. They have six children, as fol- lows: John W .; Jane A. (Humphries); Mar- tin T .; Samuel B .; Helen and Alice. He was for six years a hatter, and in 1844 became a carpenter and worked at it for thirty years. In recent years he has been successful in bee raising, in which he takes much interest. Mr. Hoke is a republican and in the spring of 1882 was appointed by the council of Union City as street commissioner. John W. Hoke, the subject of this sketch, passed the years of his boyhood in Ohio, where he attended the com- mon schools until he reached the age of four- teen years. He had been but recently engaged to learn the trade of carpentering when the war broke out. He first enlisted at the call for three months' troops in the Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry, but his services were de- clined, after he had been in camp more than two weeks, on account of the quota being full. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Indiana volunteer infantry, company C, for three years, and served under Grant, Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman. He was with the army of the Cumberland, and participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and was with Gen. Buell during his retreat, and was detailed to preform hazardous duties at the

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battle of Stone River. From this time forth his regiment was mounted and passed to the leadership of Gen. Kilpatrick, and was actively engaged as part of Sherman's army, during the Atlantic campaign, with its numerous cavalry engagements, among which might be men- tioned, Lovejoy's Station and Averysboro; at the latter point, Mr. Hoke had his horse shot from under him, but was himself unhurt, hav- ing never been in the hospital. He veteranized in the winter of 1863-4, and participated in the last campaign against Johnston at Savan- nah, and was mustered out at Raleigh, N. C., in August, 1865.

On his return home Mr. Hoke attended the Union City schools for two terms; then en- gaged with his father in contracting and car- pentering for about two years, when he be- came a contractor on his own account and has pursued that business exclusively for over a quarter of a century, erecting a large portion of the public buildings, business blocks and private dwellings in Union City. Among many prominent structures of recent years erected by him we might mention are the Bower block, Commercial bank, remodleing the Kirshbaum building, Pythian opera house, Jackson build- ing, Odd Fellow's block, Grah's block, Worth- ington-Thokey block, Ross & Horney carriage block and Lambert block, and many private residences of the better class. In the active seasons Mr. Hoke employs from six to twenty- five men. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Melinda Castner, daughter of Chas. Castner, of Greenville, O. Of this marriage there are two sons, Frank C., carpenter of Union City, and Harry A., a student of Purdue university. Mr. Hoke is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the chairs and holds a membership in the grand lodge of Indiana. He is also a member of the the Sedgwick post, G. A. R. Mr. Hoke is a

man of enlightened business views and ener- getic temperament, and by careful attention to the details of his business and sturdy integrity, which is the basis of all permanent success, has achieved a well earned reputation as the leading contractor of this city, and the sub- stantial character of the structures he has built and the faithful and prompt manner in which he has executed his contracts furnish a lasting testimonial of his worth and enterprise.

ILLIAM J. HOOK, senior member of the firm of Hook Bros., manu- facturers of butter-tubs, Union City, is the oldest son of James and Martha (Constance) Hook, and was born August 15, 1845. When he was eight years old, he was taken by his parents from Troy, N. Y., to Fond Du Lac, Wis., in which state he attended the common and high schools, until the age of sixteen. His father was proprietor of the cooperage there, and he, with his brother Charles, was employed at that trade with their father until 1864, when they went to Shelby, Ohio, and there worked at coopering until 1868; in June, 1869, the brothers purchased a cooper- age at Cardington, Ohio, and embarked in the general branches of that business. In 1873, the demand for butter-tubs had grown to such pro- portions, that they introduced the use of machinery in their manufacture. This marked an epoch in that line, for, being the first to use such machinery on hard wood material, the effect was to largely increase the capacity of their plant, which they successfully operated until 1877. At this period, they were induced to remove their factory from Cardington, Ohio, to Union City, Ind., on account of the superior shipping facilities, more ample timber supplies and larger home consumption at that point. Accordingly, in November of that

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year, they disposed of their interests at Car- dington, and erected their factory buildings on the site occupied by the Union City Furniture company. For two years the business out- grew the available space on that site, and in 1879, they built their present extensive fac- tories just across the state line and adjacennt to the railroads, the plant and yards occupying four or five acres. The finished produc;s are tubs and pails for butter and lard. The ma- terial is taken from the log and bolt. The various saw mills, stave, and heading mills, and the finishing machinery, employ from sixty to seventy hands, mostly adults, and the capacity is equal to about 1, 500 packages per day of ten hours. This was one of the first fac- tories of its kind in Indiana, and the product finds a market throughout the United States.

The father of Mr. Hook was born in Glou- cestershire, England, in 1809, where he served a seven years' apprenticeship at the cooper's trade. He married Matha Constance, who was born at the same place in 1817. They came to America in about 1840, and stopped temporarily at Montreal, Canada, and subse- quently purchased property and established themselves at Troy, N. Y., where they remained until their removal to Wisconsin, in 1853. The father died at the age of seventy-six, in 1885, in Florida, and his wife is still living with her son at the age of seventy-six years.

William J. Hook was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary St. John, daughter of Anson St. John, of Cardington, Ohio, and to this mar- riage four children were born, viz: Charles, Warren, Florence and Mary, now living. Mr. Hook was a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias, and is a stockholder in the Commercial bank, and with his brother and other leading citizens, in the Farmers & Merchants' bank at Arcanum, Ohio. He is also largely interested in real estate here and in the west.

a HARLES S. HOOK, member of the manufacturing firm of Hook Bros., Union City, Ind., was born in Troy, N. Y., December 15, 1847. When a boy of six years of age he was taken by his parents to Fond Du Lac, Wis., where he receiv- ed a thorough English education and learned the trade of coopering in his father's shop. Mr. Hook then went with his brother William to Shelby, Ohio, where they worked for five years. In 1869 he became jointly interested with his brother in the purchase of a cooperage in Cardington, Ohio, which they operated suc- cessfully until 1877, in which year they came to Union City, Ind., where they established a plant for the manufacture of butter tubs, in which they have since labored, building up one of the large and representative industries of Union City, which is fully described in the sketch of William J. Hook above. Charles S. Hook also organized the South Whitely Wooden Ware company at South Whitely, Ind., in 1891, and is its principal stockholder and president. He is a director of the Com- mercial bank of Union City, and was one of the original incorporators of the Farmers & Merchants' bank of Arcanum, Ohio. He is an affilliating member of the F. & A. M. lodge at Union City, chapter, Muncie commandery, and Indianapolis consistory. Mr. Hook is a republican, but never sought official prefer- ment, yet served from 1878 to 1887 as an active and useful member of the school baard. He is also a consistent member of the Presby- terian church, in which he holds the office of trustee. He was married in 1876 to Miss Ella Maxwell, the daughter of Levi Maxwell of Cardington, Ohio, and to this union there have been born two daughters and one son, namely: Emma, May and James. Mr. Hook is a worthy citizen and reliable and energetic business man of sound judgment, active and enterprising in every public movement.

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ORENZO DOW LAMBERT, attor- ney-at-law and notary public, at Union City, Ind., was born in Wayne county, Ind., March 2, 1827, the son of Jonathan and Mary (Campbell) Lambert. The father subsequently moved to a farm on the state line dividing Darke county, Ohio, from Wayne county, Ind., the family dwelling being on the Ohio side, where also was located a grist mill, on the middle fork of the White Water river. Lorenzo D. was reared on this farm until he attained his nineteenth year, at- tending the common schools meanwhile. In June, 1847, he came to Allenville, Jackson township, Randolph county, Ind , and man- aged a store for his father until 1854. This year he returned to Darke county, Ohio, and opened a country store at Hollansburg, with his father as partner, successfully passed through the panic of 1857, and in 1859 came to Union City. He located on the Ohio side and sold goods in partnership with his father, under the firm name of Lambert & Son, until 1863, when he moved to the Indiana side and did business on his own account until 1868. He had received a notary public's commission in 1863, which he still holds, and when, in 1868, he had disposed of his mercantile inter- est, he entered upon the practice of the law, and has since carried on quite an extensive pension claim business. He was a member of the board of town trustees and town clerk continuously for a number of years, until the town was incorporated as a city, about 1874. He was elected its first mayor as a republican and was re-elected. Mr. Lambert also does a large real estate business; he is likewise sec- retary of the local board of underwriters. The fire of June 27, 1893, destroyed his building and records, including voluminous evidence re- lating to a large number of pension claims, his law library and his office furniture.

The marriage of Mr. Lambert took place

in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Hieronymous Dick, of Randolph county, and four children blessed the union. Of these three are still living, viz .: Emma, wife of Daniel E. Shea; Webster, married to Clara Hutchinson, and Morton H., at home. Johnathan Lambert, father of Lorenzo D., was born in 1799, and died in 1869, in Union City, Randolph county, Ind. He had been a merchant since 1847; was a farmer and a miller, and, although he began business with nothing, was in easy circumstances when he died. He was the father of seven children, of whom Lorenzo D., and a half-brother and a sister are now living. Lorenzo D. Lambert has made a success of life, and is highly es- teemed for his probity and straightforward methods of doing business.

0 AVID L. McDONALD, dealer in produce, Union City, Randolph coun- ty, Ind., was born in Clarke county, Ohio, near Springfield, March 7, 1835, and is a son of William and Eliza (Lar- kin) McDonald, of whom further mention will be made below. David was reared on a farm, was educated in an old-time log school house, and being but twenty-two years old and being their eldest son when he lost his father, he remained with his widowed mother and her large family of children, contributing to their support until the breaking out of the war, when he married and went to live in the vicinity of his wife's people, near Urbana, Ohio, and farmed there for some years. He also owned a farm in Illinois, but preferred to live in Indiana, and in the spring of 1871 located in Union City, and became interested in the meat market of Castle & McDonald for fifteen years, and at the same time was also interested in the produce business. In May,

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1891, he retired to his farm in Jackson town- ship, which comprises some very valuable land. Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Sarah A. Johnson, of Champaign county, Ohio, and to this union have been born two children, viz: Kittie, now wife of Pierre Gray, eldest son of Gen. I. P. Gray, now United States minister to Mexico; and Louie, wife of George M. Sny- der, of Noblesville, Ind., cashier of the First national bank of Hamilton. Mr. McDonald is a devoted member of the Christian church of which his wife is also a member.

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A portrait and biographical record of Delaware and Randolph counties, Ind., containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 146

Author: Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1474

Author:
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Chicago, A. W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1474