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 44

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 44
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 44

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).

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time this building was found to be inadequate to meet the demands of the business; accord- ingly, Mr. Smith determined to remove the works to Muncie, where better opportunities were offered, and where he erected a much larger and more complete structure.

In July, 1889, while Mr. Smith was absent on a trip to Europe, this large manufactory was completely destroyed by fire, entailing great loss upon the proprietor and proving a serious disaster to the city of Muncie. With the energy characteristic of the man, Mr. Smith cabled his partner to begin rebuilding at once. Mr. Smith's great popularity with the people of his adopted city was sufficiently attested by the fact, that upon his return from his foreign tour, he was met at the depot by a large delega- tion of citizens who assembled for the purpose of welcoming him home, and of publicly thank- ing him for his determination to re-build his factory in Muncie. The factory since re-built does a large and lucrative business, and its products are in demand in nearly all the markets of the United States and in those of some countries of Europe. Personally Mr. Smith is popular with all with whom he comes in contact, and throughout his long business career has been thoroughly energetic and straightforward and possesses an enviable repu- tation for honesty and integrity. His home residence is one of the largest, most imposing and costly in the city of Muncie.

Politically Mr. Smith is an uncompromising supporter of the democratic party, and as such was complimented by being sent as delegate to the national convention at Chicago in 1892. While a resident of Bluffton he served two terms as school trustee, beside which he has been called to fill other positions of trust at different times. The firm of which he is head is known as J. H. Smith & Co., in addition to which he is president of the Carriage Wood Workers' association of the United States,

and president of a large manufacturing estab- lishment known as the Sidney Pole & Shaft company, of Sidney, Ohio. He is also re- ceiver of the R. E. Hill Manufacturing com- pany, and was one of the chief movers in the organization in the Citizens' Enterprise com- pany. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is prominently identified with a number of orders, including the Masonic, G. A. R., A. O. U. W., and the I. O. O. F., in the last of which he has passed all the chairs.

Mr. Smith was married May 30, 1877, to Miss Kate Shaufelberger of Freedom, Pa., a union blessed with the birth of five children, one son and four daughters.

I EWIS S. SMITH was born in the town of Alexandria, Licking county, Ohio, December 15, 1843. His father, Seth P. Smith, was a native of New York, from which state he emigrated to Clin- ton county, Ohio, and there married Harriet Smedley, thence moved to Licking county, lo- cating at Alexandria. Seth Smith was a lawyer at Newark, Ohio, and was a very successful practitioner. He was a man of prominence in Alexandria, held several official positions, and until the birth of the republican party, with which he became identified, was a whig in his political belief. He reared a family of three children: Agnes, deceased; Lenora, deceased, and Lewis S., whose name introduces this mention. His death occurred in Octobor, 1860, and his wife died November of the previous year. L. S. Smith passed the years of his youth and early manhood in his native county, and at the age of eighteen began life for him- self as a carriage manufacturer, which he con- tinued for a period of five years. In 1870 he began the study of photography at Union City, Ind., under the instruction of F. P. Wilson,

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and after becoming proficient in the art, es- tablished a gallery at the town of Camden, where he carried on a successful business for about fifteen years. In 1884 he removed to Muncie, where he has since conducted a very gratifying business, the gallery of which he is at this time proprietor being one of the best known establishments of the kind in the city. Mr. Smith is enterprising and energetic, and by a life of industry has, in a large measure, solved the problem of success. He has accu- mulated a comfortable competence and very properly ranks among the best citizens in the city in which he resides. Mr. Smith was mar- ried December 27, 1870, in Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Emma J. Shaffer, daughter of H. R. and Jane (Anderson) Shaffer, to which union three children have been born, namely: Harry, Earnest and Clifford. In politics Mr. Smith acts with the democratic party, being an earn- est advocate of the principles which he main- tains. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, belonging to DeEmber lodge, No. 30, and takes an active interest in the affairs of the fraternity. His religious belief is repre- sented by the Baptist creed, of which church both himself and wife are members.

, R. SMITH, proprietor of the largest marble - cutting establishment in Muncie, dealer in marble, granite, etc., was born in Fayette county, Ind., July 23, 1822, son of Moses and Sarah E. Smith. The father was born in New York state February 28, 1802, and the mother's birth occurred in 1806 in the province of Can- ada. Moses Smith and Sarah E. Harris were married in 1821, in Fayette county, Ind., near Connersville, where Mr. Smith engaged in agricultural pursuits, in connection with carpentering. He died July 24, 1873; his

wife died August 23, 1884; they were both members of the Methodist church, are remem- bered as most excellent and kindly disposi- tioned people, and were parents of the follow- ing children: Wilson R., Eliza, Newton, Lewis, Charles, Elvira, Sarah, Albert, Eveline, Dan- iel and Melvina, all deceased except the first named.

Wilson R. Smith was reared in Knights- town, Ind., until his twenty-second year, and early learned the blacksmith trade, which he carried on in that place for some time. He also became proficient as a carpenter, but gave his attention principally to blacksmithing, which he followed successfully in Albany, Granville, and Muncie, Delaware county, until 1861. In the latter year, owing to the loss of his right arm, occasioned by a premature dis- charge of a canon, while ratifying the election of President Lincoln, he was obliged to give up his trade, and, for two years thereafter, served as deputy sheriff of Delaware county under J. W. Dungan. During the suc- ceeding four years, he was traveling sales- man for a marble company, and in 1869 was complimented by the people of the county by being elected sheriff, the duties of which office he discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned for a period of two years. In February, 1870, Mr. Smith engaged in the marble business in part- nership with John Parry, which relationship continued four years, when Mr. Smith pur- chased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor. Subsequently, he effected a co- partnership with his sons, under the firm name of Smith & Sons, which still exists and which does a large and lucrative business, represent- ing $20,000 worth of work per year. Mr. Smith does all grades of granite and marble work, such as first class shops turn out, and only the very best workmen are employed in his establishment. He is a skillful workman,

W. R. SNYDER.

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understands all phases of the business, and his patronage extends throughout Delaware and a number of other counties in eastern Indiana.

Mr. Smith was married in Richland town- ship, Jay county, Ind., August 4, 1844, to Sarah Hollingshead, whose birth occurred in Greene county, Ohio, July 17, 1824. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of James and Mary (Scarff) Hollingshead, natives of Virginia. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith three children have been born: James N., John O. and Julian T., the last named deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active members of the Methodist church of Muncie. Mr. Smith is prohibitionist and an earnest advocate of temperance reform.

ROF. WILLIAM R. SNYDER, the efficient superintendent of the public schools of Muncie, is a native of Pennsylvania, born on the 30th day of August, 1850, in the historic old city of Gettysburg. His parents, Conrad and Cath- erine (Fisher) Snyder, were also natives of the Keystone state, and for a number of years residents of the county of Adams. In the public schools of his native town Prof. Snyder received an elementary education, and later became a student of the well known institu- tion, Pennsylvania college at Gettysburg, in which he completed the full course, graduating with a creditable record in the class of 1873. The same year he taught a term in the district schools of Wyandotte county, Ohio. The next year he was principal of a graded school at the town of Waldron, Shelby county, Ind., where he continued two years, after which, for the same length of time, he had charge of the schools of Acton, not far from the city of Indianapolis. Severing his connection with the schools of the latter place, Prof. Snyder accepted the principalship of the Shelbyville

high school, the duties of which he discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner until 1883, when he resigned in order to accept a position in the city schools of Muncie. From 1883 until 1884 he served as second assistant in the Muncie high school, and in the latter year became principal of the same, which po- sition he held until 1887, when, upon the res- ignation of Prof. John M. Bloss, he was pro- moted to the superintendency of all the city schools. This is a position of great responsi- bility, the city of Muncie containing eight school districts, in which are ten school build- ings, with an aggregate of sixty rooms, requir- ing the services of sixty teachers, with one special teacher for the department of music .. Under his efficient supervision the schools of Muncie have made most commendable prog- ress, and the city's educational system stands among the best in the state. Through his instrumentality many important improvements tending to lessen the work of the teacher and benefit the pupils have been adopted, and the confidence reposed in him, both by patrons and the school board, is sufficiently attested by his unanimous re-election for several years to the position he now holds.

The very high character Prof. Snyder has achieved as an educator has made him well and favorably known throughout the state, both as a teacher and manager, and in view of his untiring energy it is safe to assume that there are few, if any, more popular superin- tendents in Indiana. He is now in the prime of vigorous manhood, possesses genial man- ners, superior scholarship, and his twenty years' practical experience in school work, from village school to the superintendency, bespeaks for him a future of still greater effici- ency and usefulness. While meeting with success in his chosen profession such as few attain, Prof. Snyder at one time seriously con- templated abandoning teaching and making

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the practice of law his life work. While teaching at Acton and Waldron he pursued his legal studies under the instruction of Thomas B. Adams and Louis T. Michener, well known attorneys of Shelbyville, but never applied for admission to the bar, his success as an instructor convincing him that a wider sphere of usefulness was to be found in the field of education.

Since locating in Muncie, Prof. Snyder has been active in promoting the city's material prosperity, having been a liberal contributor to many important enterprises, among which is the Citizens' Enterprise company, of which he is a member; at this time he is president of the board of trustees of the Muncie library. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to chapter, council and commandery, and he also assisted in the or- ganization of Muncie tent, Knights of Macca- bees, of which he was the first eminent commander. Prof. Snyder is an earnest mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, serving at this time as clerk of sessions, superintendent of the Sunday school, and also as member of the committee having in hand the erection of the present beautiful temple of worship. Politi- cally he is a republican, and as such takes an active interest in all the leading issues of the day.

On the 30th of June, 1878, Prof. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Nannie B. Ferran, daughter of John and Mary Ferran of Acton, Ind., the fruit of which union is two daughters: Lily E. and Mytle M.

ILLIAM HENRY SNYDER, late a prominent manufacturer of Muncie, was born in the year 1824 in Dela- ware county, Ohio, the son of John and Celia (Freeman) Snyder, both parents natives of the state of Kentucky. The father

was a cooper by trade, and in an early day moved to Ohio, where he followed his chosen calling for a number of years. William Henry Snyder spent his youthful years in the state of his nativity, and while still young began the cooper's trade, in which he acquired great pro- ficiency, and which he followed for some years near the city of Springfield, at the small town of Granville, working for a Mr. Spence, a leading business man of that place. While residing in Granville he met Miss Catherine Heffner, daughter of Laurence and Charlotte Heffner, to whom he was united in marriage on the 19th day of November, 1846. In July, 1852, he moved to central Indiana, locating on a farm about seven miles west of Muncie, where he resided for a period of three years as a successful agriculturist. At the end of that time he gave up tilling the soil and engaged in the coopering business in Muncie, erecting a large shop on the spot now occupied by the power house of the Citizens' Street Railway company, where he carried on the trade with gratifying success for almost five years, during which time, he was sole proprietor of the es- tablishment. He next effected a co-partner- ship in the manufacture of barrels and cooper- age material with the well known business men, Messrs. Wysor & Kline, adding a large stave factory, which, under Mr. Snyder's per- sonal management, was operated until within a few months of his death in 1876. In addi- tion to his duties as superintendent, Mr. Sny- der took the road, for some years, as salesman for the product of the factory, besides doing an extensive brokerage business in barrels and cooperage supplies, throughout Indiana, Ohio, and other states. In 1865 the firm suffered an almost total loss by the destruction of their large and valuable plant by fire, but the estab- lishment was soon rebuilt, and it continued in successful operation until the site was sold to. the Street Railway company, in 1893.

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Mr. Snyder was essentially a business man, fully alive to the interest of the factory with which he was for so many years identified, and few men of Muncie stood higher in the estimation of the public .in general. He was always noted for his untiring industry and methodica1 business habits, and his relations with those in his employ were of the happiest kind, and his considerateness for their welfare and comfort was the subject of much favorable comment. After continuing with Messrs. Wysor & Kline for some years, Mr. Snyder purchased his partner's interests, after which, his son John became his business associate. As already stated, the death of Mr. Snyder occurred in 1 876, having reached the age of fifty-two years. After his death the factory was continued by the widow and three sons, and remained in operation under the management of the differ- ent brothers until the death of Francis Marion Snyder in March, 1890.

The following are the names of the children born to William H. and Catherine Snyder: John M., a well known farmer of Delaware county, whose birth occurred on the 27th of May, 1852, in the town of Addison, Ohio; James Perry, cooper of Muncie, born in Dela- ware county, Ind., July 13, 1855; Francis Marion, born September 17, 1853, died March 19, 1890, aged thirty-two years; Ada Odelia, born July 27, 1860, married Marion Helvie, and departed this life on the 15th day of Octo- ber, 1887; Emma Jane-wife of Albert Ogle- born April 27, 1866; Harry Edward, carriage painter, born August 17, 1869, and infant that died unnamed. Mrs. Snyder is a worthy mem- ber of the Central Christian church.

Muncie city, and, indeed, Delaware county, are indebted for their prosperity to men of brains and industry such as was William Henry Snyder, and both city and county should and do welcome to their borders men of his caliber and enterprising energy.

R UDOLPH SPRANKLE, banker, was born in York county, Pa., April 17, 18.17. His father, Peter Sprankle, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Walters, was brought to the United States, when a child, from Zuerbrecken, Germany, and for some time lived next door to Gen. George Washington, in Philadelphia. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent the greater part of his life in York county. Later he moved to Holmes county, Ohio, in which state his death occurred; his wife sur- vived her husband two years and died in Holmes county, at the town of Berlin. The early years of Rudolph Sprankle were passed in his native county and state, and at the age of fifteen he accompanied his parents to Holmes county, Ohio, where his introduction to business life was in the capacity of a clerk in a mercantile establishment, which position he filled for a limited period. His mind early turned toward mercantile pursuits, and on giving up his clerkship he purchased a stock of goods in the town of Portage, Summit county, Ohio, where, in addition to merchan- dising, he carried on the grain business and laid the foundation of his subsequent success- ful business career. Within a short time he disposed of his mercantile stock and turned his attention exclusively to the grain trade, locating, first, at the town of Navarre, Stark county, Ohio, where he carried on a very suc- cessful business for over thirty years, and then removed to Cleveland. where he enlarged his operations and became one of the most exten- sive grain dealers in northern Ohio. In the latter city he became associated in the busi- ness with his son, James Sprankle, and their purchases of grain were principally in car. lots from all points of the country; they also oper- ated a large elevator for twelve years. The business of the firm proved very successful,

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and the Messrs. Sprankle earned a wide repu- tation as safe and reliable dealers and honest business men.

Disposing of his interest in Cleveland, Mr. Sprankle came to Muncie, Ind., and, in part- nership with his son, organized the Delaware County bank, of which he was made president; he also continued the grain and milling busi- ness after locating in this city, operating the mills and elevator on High street. He retired from the bank when it became a national con- cern, and, although connected with the same, is now practically retired from business after a long, active, and creditable career. Mr. Sprankle has met with most gratifying success in his various business enterprises, and in ad- dition to amassing a comfortable fortune, has established a reputation for honesty and integ- rity that is in every way commendable. He was married in the spring of 1837, to Miss Mary Bentford, a natfve of Pennsylvania, who bore him two children, William and James R., the former of whom died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Sprankle was born a democrat, and has ever been an earnest and intelligent supporter of the principles of that party.

James R. Sprankle, son of Rudolph and Mary Sprankle, and one of the most widely known and one of the most successful business men of central Indiana, was born February 2, 1843, at the town of Navarre, Stark county, Ohio. After receiving a practical education in the public schools, assisting his fatheruin the grain business in the mean time, he went to the city of Cleveland at the age of eighteen, and effected a copartnership with Adam Burget, which, under the firm name of Sprankle & Burget, dealt very extensively in buying and shipping grain for a period of three years. At the end of that time, Mr. Sprankle bought his partner's interest, and became associated with his father under the firm name of Sprnakle & Son, and the partnership thus constituted

greatly extended the business, operating largely along the Ohio canal from Cleveland to Chilli- cothe, and over the Bee Line railroad from the former city to Indianapolis. They purchased extensively from all points contiguous to these lines, and extended their business over the greater portion of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, southern Michigan and other states, and be- came among the most widely known and suc- cessful shippers of grain to the seaboard cities. The business of the Sprankles was not confined to grain alone, but included seeds of all kinds, wool, and other commodities, and they sold the first cargo of Michigan salt ever brought to Cleveland. Mr. Sprankle continued in busi- ness in Cleveland until 1887, and the same year located in Muncie and built the steam flouring mills on High street. In partnership with his father he established the Delaware County bank, which was reorganized in De- cember, 1892, as a national bank, with a cap- ital stock of $100,000, Mr. Sprankle becoming vice-president. In addition to his connection with the banking and grain business, he is president of the Architectural Iron company, and also holds an important official position in the Common Sense Engine company of this city. He was one of the stockholders of the Citizens' Gas company, and has been promi- nently identified with other important business and manufacturing enterprises.

R. WILLIAM A. SPURGEON, of Muncie, Ind., was born near Salem, Washington county, Ind., February I, 1852, and is the eldest son of Wi- ley and Mary F. (Mckinney) Spurgeon. Wiley Spurgeon was born February 24, 1825, and Mary F. (Mckinney) Spurgeon in 1824, both in Washington county, Ind., and were there married, February 27, 1848. Wiley's father

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was Josiah Spurgeon, born November 13, 1777, in North Carolina, came to Indiana in 1811, and settled near Salem, Washington county. James A. Mckinney, the father of Mary F. Spurgeon, was born in Tennessee, January 16, 1795, and settled near Salem, Ind., also in 1811. Wiley Spurgeon was the youngest son in a family of five boys and six girls. He was reared near Salem, and received a good com- mon school education. He served under Gen. Taylor in the Mexican war.

The father of the subject of this sketch, Wiley Spurgeon, served as county commissioner and in other official positions for a number of years. He has been for many years an elder in the Christian church. He was always re- garded as a man of great firmness and integ- rity of character. His home, with his aged wife, is now (1893) on the farm near Beck's Grove, Ind., where they enjoy fine health and a competency gained by years of industry and economy. Mary F. (Mckinney) Spurgeon was next the youngest daughter in a family of three boys and four girls. William A. Spurgeon was reared on a farm, with one brother and four sisters. He received his preparatory education at the common schools until sixteen years of age, then attended, two years, the academy at Clear Springs, Ind., after which he taught school during the winters, attending the acade- my at Salem in the summers, for two years, and later attended college at Bedford, Ind. In 1871 he began the study of medicine under Dr. George H. Chute, a prominent physician of southern Indiana, and in 1872 entered the Physio-Medical institute at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1873 he began the practice of medicine in Freetown, in partnership with his preceptor. He soon after entered the Physio-Medical col- lege of Indiana, at Indianapolis, from which institution he graduated in 1875, and returned to his former partner, with whom he continued until 1877. Soon after his graduation from the

college at Indianapolis, he was elected to the chair of descriptive and surgical anatomy in the college where he received his degree, and con- tinued a member of the faculty, delivering regular courses of lectures each year until 1893, when he resigned in order to give more time to his professional duties. Dr. Spurgeon removed to Muncie, Ind., April 13, 1880. He soon took a leading rank in his profession, and beside attending to his ex- tensive practice the doctor gave some time to other matters pertaining to his profession. He is a member of the American Association of Physio-Medical Physicians and Surgeons, and was appointed to deliver an annual ad- dress before that body at its meeting at Chi- cago, 1890. He has been a member of the Physio-Medical Association of Indiana since 1875, serving a term as its president, and contributing freely to its medical literature. He was sent by the Physio-Medical college of Indiana as a delegate to the World's Congress of Temperance Physicians which met in New York in 1891. In politics the doctor was a republican till in 1886, when he joined the prohibition party, and in 1888 was a candidate for the legislature, and made an aggressive campaign, obtaining more votes than any other man on the ticket. In 1890 he made the race for secretary of state, when he again ran ahead of the ticket, and though the party as an organization seemed hopelessly in the minority, he remained true to its principles, and in 1892 he was the party's candidate for congress in the Sixth Indiana district, and made a dignified and effective canvass. The doctor was married August 29, 1872, to Miss Elvira Chute, daughter of his preceptor and partner. Of this union were born three sons and one daughter: The eldest son, George Wiley, and the second son, Alva Osten, died in infancy. The third son, Orville Elmer, and the daughter, Mary Alice, are living in Mun-

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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 44

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