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 150

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 150
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 150

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In 1886, Mr. Rosenbush was married to Miss Carrie D. Keller, daughter of Charles Keller, of Union City. The result of this union has been three children, who are named, Minnie, Ada and Ethel. The Rosenbush family have always stood high in the esteem of their neighbors, their good conduct and staightfor- ward course of life bringing to them, in the natural course of events, the esteem they so well deserve. He is a democrat, and he and wife are connected with the Lutheran church, and he is also treasurer of the Mutual Benefit society of the church.

a APT. JAMES B. ROSS, attorney at at law, Union City, Randolph county, Ind., was born in Holmes county, Ohio, February 20, 1844, a son of Randall and Eliza (Boone) Ross. When James B. was but fourteen months old his father died, leaving a widow and ten children, and consequently the lad was reared by his mother on the home farm until thirteen years of age. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in company G, Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, was mustered in at Wooster, and saw his first fight at Cumberland Gap, and then at Taze- well; was in the campaign up the Kanawha; down the Kanawha to Charleston, down the Ohio to Louisville and the Mississippi to Mem- phis and Vicksburg, in the terrible repulse at Chickasaw Bluffs, behind Vicksburg, the regi- ment losing 270 men and where two of his brothers were wounded and himself struck by a spent ball; up Arkansas river to Arkansas Post, capturing all of its garrison; at Milliken's Bend to help dig " Grant's canal," and lay in sight of Vicksburg during the operations pre- vious to the surrender of that city. From thence was on the advance on the campaign and was at James' plantation on the night the gunboats ran the blockade at Vicksburg.

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Thence they went to New Orleans; thence on the campaign to Opelousas, by way of Bos- siers, Franklin and New Iberia; returned late in the fall of 1863 to New Orleans, took passage on the ship St Marys for Texas, landed at Decoos Point, on the gulf of Mexico, were there during the "cold" New Year's; thence crossed Matagorda bay to Indianola and Old Town; thence to Matagorda island, at the entrance of Matagorda bay; thence back to New Orleans and up the Red river in support of Banks; helped to build a dam across this river, making a sluice way for our fleet of gun boats from above to pass the falls at Alexandria. Flatboats were anchored at the edges of the dam and fastened by hugh iron bolts to the rocks in the bed of the stream. Down the roaring, dashing torrent, through that fearful sluiceway rushed, one by one, that fleet of monitors and gunboats, bounding, plunging, almost tumbling as they went, but safely reaching the river below the dam. Thence the regiment went to Yellow Bayou and Morganza Bend on the Mississippi river, encamped for two months. The term of en- listment having expired, they returned home by the way of Cairo and Indianapolis to Columbus, Ohio, where they were discharged late in fall of 1864, Capt. Ross being then but twenty years of age.

In the spring of 1865 Mr. Ross was at school at Ashland, Ohio; taught a country school; was principal at Orville, Ohio, five years, and at Canal Fulton two years; came to Union City in 1875, engaging in the law. He has been justice two years and mayor two years, under republican auspices, and in 1888 was elected prosecuting attorney, and re- elected in 1892.

James B. Ross was united in the bonds of matrimony, in 1875, with Miss Cora McGill, of Orville, daughter of John and Maria McGill, and is now the happy father of two children-

William W. and Mabel. The various positions that Capt. Ross has filled in civil as well as military life give full evidence of his superb executive ability, and his grasp of every cir- cumstance presented to his mental vision, and of such men as he are the prosperity and pro- gress of every community made up.

EORGE W. ROSS, carriage manu- facturer of Union City, Randolph county, Ind., is a son of William and Melinda (Beall) Ross, and was born near Springfield, Clarke county, Ohio, in January, 1837. In the fall of 1838, his father changed his residence to Darke county, locating about a mile east of the present site of Union City. The country was then a wilderness, with no neighbors within six miles, and George W. was quite a lad when there were but three clearings on the land where the city now stands-the Loveland, North Whittaker, and Montepeck. Deer and wild turkeys were abundent, but educational advantages scarce, and it was not until George was thirteen years of age before any were opened to him. He helped to clear and cultivate the farm un- til he was twenty-six years of age, and then began the manufacture of poplar wood pumps, working, the first year in his father's barn. In 1862 he came to Union City, formed a partnership with a Mr. Evans, and manufactured pumps until some time in 1864, when he enlisted in the one hundred days' serv- ice and went to the defense of the Union. On his return he bought out Mr. Evans, built a shop on a lot he owned on the corner of Union and Pearl streets, and continued the manufacture of pumps until 1875, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Knapp and engaged in the manufacture of buggies. Later, Charles Prior bought out Knapp's in- terest, and for two years the business was

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carried on under the firm name of Ross & Prior. Then Mr. Ross was alone until 1891, when J. H. Horney joined Mr. Ross, and the firm of Ross & Horney are still in the business. Mr. Ross occupied the same site for over a quarter of a century, when a fire, June 27, 1893, destroyed the building, but all the stock was saved excepting some unfinished work and a few tools. The firm then re- opened in the Bower's block and other build- ings at the corner of Columbia and Oak streets, where they are now conducting busi- ness. The marriage Mr. Ross took place, in 1867, to Miss Melissa Moist, of Randolph county, Ind., and their only child, Miss Ollie, is now a teahcer in the Union City schools. William Ross, the father of George W., was born near Springfield, Ohio, 1811, and the father of William came from the Shanandoah Valley, Va. William and Melinda Ross were the parents of the following children: George W .; Mollie, wife of Alfred Johnson, of Union City; John, a farmer of Mercer county, Ohio; Jacob, killed in the army; Rosa, unmarried; James, on the old homestead; Samuel, in Chicago; David, a farmer of Darke county, Ohio, and William, an engineer of Muncie, Ind. The father of this family died in 1878, at the age of sixty-seven, and the mother two years later, at about the same age, both con- sistent members of the Christian church. The reputatation of George W. Ross as a business man is of the highest order fntegrity, and his social standing is of the best, while his vehicles, for excellence of workmanship and durability, are without rivals.

ILLIAM B. SCHLEUTER, artist of Union City, Ind., son of Bern- hard and Olive (Scharff) Schleuter, was born on his grandfather's beau- tiful estate, called "Frederikseg," near Nas-

tued, Seeland, Denmark, March 16, 1869. About 1872, the father came to the United States, and the family followed one year later, when William B. was one and one-half years old. The father, being an artist, was engaged in that work at different cities in Iowa and Missouri, finally settling at St. Louis. When the subject of this sketch was in his ninth year, he with his mother and two sisters re- turned to his native country, where he began a comprehensive course of study. He first entered the high school at Copenhagen, and two years later, at the age of eleven years, en- tered Pio's school, known as Borgerdyds skolen, it being the Danish name. He there pursued a course in modern languages, history and the sciences, continuing one year. The death of his grandfather, occurring at this time, had the effect to change his plan somewhat, and he entered the Academia Sorana in the town of Soro, forty miles from Copenhagen, where he completed a course of study covering a period of five years. At the age of seventeen he returned to America, and for a time was clerk in Barr's store in St. Louis. Not liking duties incident to mercantile life, he went into the photographic gallery of the artist Scholten, where he remained until that gentleman died subsequently. He next was employed in Belle's art studio, and from there, he went to Mem- phis, Tenn., where he pursued the same call- ing, and was later re-toucher and printer at Carthage, Mo. He was next engaged in the same work at Fairfield, Iowa, under a Mr. Sun- derland, and awhile later was engaged in gal- lery work at Carthage, Ill. ; after a short vaca- tion he came to Union City, Ind., in Septem- ber, 1891, where he became proprietor of the Model Photograph gallery on Oak street.

The character of artist Schleuter's work in all lines is very superior, and has had the effect to build up for him an enviable reputation as well as a large and profitable business. His

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gallery has all the latest appliances used in the photographer's art, and is well deserving the name of "Model," on account of the beauti- ful exhibit which may at all times be seen there.

J OHN THOMPSON SHAW, one of the oldest merchants of Union City, Ran- dolph county, Ind., is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Ramsey) Shaw, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born on a farm in the southeast corner of Greensfork township, Ran- dolph county, May 4, 1831, the spring follow- ing the settlement of his father in the county. In 1846 they moved to Hollansburg, Darke county, Ohio; in 1848 to Bethel, Wayne county, Ind., and in 1849 to the John Harlan farm south of Spartanburg. At the age of eighteen he worked a year or so at shoemaking in Spartanburg with his brother Samuel, and during two or three years afterward with John Taylor at the same place. He entered the grocery business there in 1854, and the trade in dry goods in 1857. During the late war he kept the postoffice there, and in 1864 came to Union City, and opened a dry goods store. Since then he has been engaged in the same trade, a period of nearly thirty years. For three or four years he was in partnership with his brother-in-law, Samuel Anderson, or until the latter's death in 1868. The present firm style is J. T. Shaw & Son, which carries an extensive stock of carpetings in addition to dry goods, occupying two floors, and employ- ing seven people. Mr. Shaw married Priscilla C. Starbuck in 1853, and they have seven children, three of whom are living: John M., Roscoe R. and Francis O., all in the store.

Mr. Shaw joined the Disciple church at Spartanburg in 1861, and is still a member of that religious society, being an active worker, and for eight years deacon in the Disciple

church at Union City, sometimes going out to hold religious meetings for worship and instruc- tion with good acceptance. He is a man of character and standing, an active and thorough temperance man, of good business habits, and esteemed by his fellow citizens. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. For eight years his residence was on the Ohio side, though his business has been all the time in Indiana, where also he now resides. Mr. Shaw, it will be seen, is one of the longest established merchants of Union City, and during all these years he has maintained a reputation for business integrity of which any merchant in the land might well feel proud.

HEODORE SHOCKNEY was born in Wayne township, Randolph coun- ty, Ind., on September 16, 1852. He was born and reared in a farm house, his people being among the pioneers of Indiana. When but nine years old his mother died, and a year later his father also passed across life's border, leaving young Theodore an orphan. He remained on the farm until sixteen years of age, working for his board and clothes. Like other country boys he attended district school for about three months in the winter. Being studiously inclined, the start he received in school enabled him to continue his studies at every opportunity, and on wet days, and on all other occasions when the farmer is necessarily idle for a portion of the time, young Shockney would be found at his books. As a consequence he was fitted to teach at the early age of sixteen, and secured a district school. He was a school teacher for nine years. During vacations he attended school at Winchester and Union City, and the college at Ridgeville. In 1872 Mr. Shockney began reading law with Isaac P. Gray, teach-

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ing in the winter so as to procure money to pay his expenses. His law books accon- panied him to the school room, where all spare time and a great portion of the nights was devoted to their perusal. In 1877 he went into the law office of Stanton J. Peelle, at Indianapolis, and completed his studies. In 1878 he was admitted to the bar on commend- ation of Judge L. J. Monks, and soon became a prominent member. Mr. Shockney was elected mayor of Union City, in 1880. Be- fore his term expired he was nominated as the republican candidate for representative of Ran- dolph county, and was elected. In 1888 he was nominated and elected joint senator of the counties of Delaware and Randolph, and made an enviable record in the state senate, in the face of an overwhelming democratic majority. In 1892 he was nominated by the republicans of Indiana as their candidate for lieutenant-governor, and here met his first de- feat, going down with the rest of the ticket, before the democratic host, in that memorable campaign.

Mr. Shockney has been a member of every state convention since he was twenty-one years of age, and was a member of the state executive committee until nominated, and without his solicitation. He has also partici- pated in every campaign in Randolph county, making many effective speeches in almost every neighborhood. During the Ohio cam- paign of 1893, he had a pressing invitation from the state committee to assist in that state, but owing to pressing legal business, he was unable to accept it. His canvass of Indiana in 1892, while a candidate for lieutenant gov- ernor, widened an already extensive acquaint- ance with the foremost men of the state, and acquaintance with him means friendship. Recognized as an earnest, honest and capable man by the party leaders, Mr. Shockney's future is certainly bright.

Mr. Shockney was married, in 1877, to Miss Emma A., daughter of John and Abigail (Kramer) Keever. Two daughters and one son have been born to them Blanche, Don P., and Ave Maria.

Theodore Shockney's father was William P. Shockney, a native of Maryland. The lat- ter came west when eighteen years old, and settled on a farm within four miles of Union City. He studied medicine, and practiced here and in Tipton county until his death in 1862. He married Jane C. Frazier, daughter of James and Nancy (Dillon) Frazier. To this union four sons and one daughter were born, one being the subject of this sketch. Of the others, John A. is an attorney and now in partnership with Theodore; James N., state agent of the Mutual Life Insurance company, Marshalltown, Iowa; Charles H., attorney at Dunkirk, Ind., and Mary J., wife of Levi Cox, farmer, of Wayne county, Ind. The grand- father of Theodore Shockney was John Shock- ney, born in Maryland, and a soldier of the war of 1812. The great-grandfather was Patrick Shockney, a native of Ireland. The latter was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

J UDGE JEREMIAHI SMITH, who is entitled to the honor of being the founder of Union City, Ind., was born in North Carolina in 1805. His pater- nal ancestors were from England, and his great-grandfather was a Yorkshire Quaker, who came to America and settled in Pennsyl- vania about 1727. His grandfather, David Smith, was born in 1736, and died in 1801. His father, William Smith, was born in 1779, and died in 1831, having emigrated to Ran- dolph county in 1817. Jeremiah, being then a boy of twelve years, also settled with the family in West River township in the woods,

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where he grew up amid the trials, privations and hardships of pioneer life. It is worthy of note that the year following Indiana became a state and the county seat at Winchester was laid out, an account of both events being re- corded in extensive and ably written manu- scripts from Judge Smith's pen, entitled "Rem- iniscences and Civil History of Randolph County."

Mr. Smith was early imbued with an in- tense desire for an education. He availed himself of every opportunity within his reach to acquire it, and when reaching young man- hood spent about three years in a higher school of learning, taught by an uncle by the name of Wolford, in Giles county, Tenn., where he learned surveying and other sciences. Subsequently he was engaged in surveying the Kankakee swamps in 1828. He was appoint- ed collector of Randolph county, and while serving fn this capacity was elected teacher of a school at Richmond, where he taught nine months, his brother serving as deputy for him, in the meantime. He was for many years a deputy in the office of Charles Conway, who served in the double capacity of clerk and re- corder of Randolph county, Ind. He was also at different times deputy sheriff, sheriff, prose- cuting attorney, surveyor, and served for seven years as judge of the circuit court, first by appointment and afterwards by popular election. He was admitted to the bar in 1836, had the reputation of being the best judge of English law in the state of Indian, and for over thirty years was a prominent and successful practioneer of law.

Mr. Smith was one of the original pro- moters of the building of the Bee Line rail- road, with the Hon. O. H. Smith. Relying on the certainty of its construction, as early as 1848 he purchased the land on which Union City now stands, which was then known as Loveland's deadening. In 1853, in conjunc-

tion with Oliver H. Smith, they laid out Union City, and a large share of Judge Smith's time and energy was devoted to its upbuilding; he early predicted that this city, which Winches- ter people jocularily called "Jerico," would exceed both the adjoining county seats in population and prosperity. Through his enter- prise and intelligence he lived to see his pre- dictions verified. In politics he was a demo- crat, sincere in his opinions, and fearless and uncompromising in their advocacy and main- tenance. In a public debate with Ovid But- ler, on the question "Is slavery sinful?" he took the negative, and maintained his side with marked ability. He was honest and in- corruptible, both in public and private life. No man ever so much as breathad a suspicion to darken his fair name. In this respect he was a stern advocate of public economy and an uncompromising foe to extravagance of every kind. Judge Smith was married to Cyn- thia Dye in 1833, and reared a large family. They had ten children, eight of whom are liv- ing. They were William K. Smith, Union City; John D. Smith; Charles C. Smith, farmer near Winchester, Ind .; Mary E. Carter and Charlotte A. White, now residents of Dela- ware, O .; Hon. Henry B. Smith, banker at Hartford City, Ind .; I. J. Smith, of Wichita, Kan .; Oliver H. Smith, of Greenville, Ohio. The religious tenets of Mr. Smith's parents were of the regular Baptist church, of which they were devoted and active members during their life time. Judge Smith early entered the Disciple church, in which, as in other things, he devoted a liberal share of his time, talents and means. By a sad and terrible accident, his faithful wife was thrown under a moving train at the Winchester depot of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad. She survived only one day, departing this life July 7, 1872. This sad bereavement prostrated Judge Smith, and he never seemed to rally his powers to

JOHN D. SMITH.

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overcome this sad calamity, and in two and one half years he followed her, dying in December, 1874, in his seventieth year. Both lie buried in the beautiful cemetery at Union City, where a beautiful and costly monument fittingly marks the spot of their last resting place.

3 OHN DYE SMITH, one of the most prominent business men of Union City, was born in Winchester, Ind., June 16, 1839. He is the son of Judge Jeremiah Smith and spent his boyhood days in Win- chester. His school life was begun in the old county seminary conducted by Profs. Faris, Spencer and Cole. At the age of seventeen he went to Indianapolis and learned the jewelry trade of W. H. Talbot. He afterward at- tended the Northwestern Christian university at Indianapolis for two years, the school then being in its infancy. He was then employed as a carriage trimmer in a buggy factory. In 1863, he purchased a stock of boots and shoes in Winchester, where he conducted the busi- ness for one year, and then moved his stock to Shelbyville, where, after one year, he closed it out, as it did not suit him. His father, who had previously laid out the town of Union City, persuaded him to start in business in the new town. He came in March, 1865, with the intention of starting a jewelry store. Finding no room suitable, he built a frame building, on the site of his present business place, and opened a jewelry store and repair shop in July, 1865. In 1875, he (with his brother) erected a brick building, which was destroyed by fire in May, 1883, then built the one he now occupies.

Mr. Smith has been the leading jeweler in Union City for thirty years, carrying a large and well assorted stock of jewelry, silverware, clocks, watches, etc. The character of his

stock and his honest dealing have earned for him an enviable reputation in the business world. He is a member and vice-president of the Jewelers' association of Ohio, and was a delegate to the National association at Chicago. Mr. Smith is a man who is not entirely wrapped up in his business, but has done much for the welfare and progress of his town. For eight years he was a member of the board of con- trol of Union City, under the old charter, was town trustee for two years, and under the new charter has served in the city council. While a member of the latter body he labored for six years to perfect the admirable sewerage system of the city. He has also been closely identified with all the local building and loan associations, having served as president for five or six of them. He was also an original stockholder in the Winchester & Union City Turnpike company, having served as director for ten years, besides being secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Smith was married, in 1860, to Adeline E., daughter of Dr. Nathaniel M. Teal of Indi- anapolis. Two children have blessed their home: William T., and Ella, wife of Samuel M. Briscoe, of Hartford City. For many years past Mr. Smith has been a very active member of 'the democratic party and has served on the state central committee for the sixth congressional district. He has in his possession some very interesting papers left him by his father. One is the contract for the purchase of the originial tract of land upon which Union City stands, bearing date of 1848. He has also the original plat of the city and many others. Mr. Smith has done much for the city and its society. The spirit of progress animates his whole being and there is scarcely a creditable institution in the town that has not been enlivened to some extent by his aid and influence, and his spirit of enterprise is uni- versally recognized.

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ILLIAM K. SMITH was born at Winchester, Ind., April 27, 1836. His parents were Jeremiah and Cyn- thia (Dye) Smith, born in South Carolina and Ohio respectively, the former of English parentage. Mr. Smith attended school at the county seminary until he was twenty years of age, and then spent one year in the Butler university, Irvington, Ind., taking the common branches and higher mathematics. Coming to Union City in 1857, he started a general store; but, tiring of it, he made a sale and entered the railroad service as first station agent of the Panhandle Railroad company. He held this position about one year, when a consolidation of the agency with the Bee Line took place. Only one agent was needed, and Mr. Smith, being the junior agent, lost his position. In 1859 he erected a building on Columbia street and opened a boot and shoe store, where, despite two burn-outs (one of considerable loss in 1883), he still does a flour- ishing business. For two years he had charge of his father's real estate interests, making sales and collections. At his father's death, he and his brother, H. B., were made execu- tors by request of will. The whole original plat, consisting of 483 lots, was disposed of in separate lots, the business being mostly done by W. K. Smith and requiring eleven years to be completed.

Mr. Smith is identified with the Citizen's bank, having been one of its directors for about twenty years. In early years he was one of the city councilmen and was always active in securing improvements. He took stock in the electric light plant, which he helped to organize and put into operation in 1888. He is now secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Public Lighting and Commercial service, consisting in all of sixty lights. He was also very active in the build- ing of the Pythian opera house, not only tak-

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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 150

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