USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A portrait and biographical record of Delaware county, 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 47
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On the 18th of April, 1860, Mr. Truitt was united in marriage with Miss Lida Kerwood, of Oxford, Ohio, who died December 13, 1863, leaving two children, namely: Lola and Stan- ley (the latter deceased). On the 17th of May, 1864, he was married in Mansfield, Ohio, to Mrs. Anna A. Ramsey, his present wife, whose sketch and life like portrait appears in this volume.
Joshua Truitt is a man of marked individ- uality, a good student, a close and logical reasoner. He is of an analytical turn of mind, and very careful and painstaking in his studies and investigations. He is a deep, close thinker, and possessed of a mind that naturally abhors superficiality, He is careful and cautious in his methods of arriving at conclusions; but when he has once assumed a position upon a given question he defends it with rare tenacity and determination. He is a man of strong convictions and a high sense of justice, and is inclined to be contentious, even in matters of little consequence, where he thinks there is a principle involved. The mere looker-on, with- out going into an investigation of the premises, would sometimes think him unreasonably stub- born. He is a man of generous disposition and temperate habits, and a close observer of current events. He has written and delivered before the Ethical, Literary Friends, Literary and Scientific association, and other literary societies of Muncie, of which he has been a member, several valuable, interesting and highly entertaining papers on various enter- taining literary topics. He is a firm believer in the principles of christianity, and always ready and eager to defend them when he thinks they are being assailed. He has been an active member of some of the leading literary socie- ties of Muncie; among them those already . named, and has contributed his full share toward the literary progress and advancement of the city. These facts are gleaned from data furnished by intimate friends of the subject of this sketch.
NNA AUGUSTA TRUITT, philan- thropist and temperance worker of Muncie, but whose name is known wherever the cause of temperance has an apostle or reform an advocate, was
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born at Canaan, New Hampshire, in 1837, her father having been Daniel G. Pattin, who married Ruth Chase Whittier, the latter a relative of Gov. Chase, of New Hampshire. as well as of the "Quaker Poet," John Green- leaf Whittier. Anna Augusta was still quite young when her father emigrated with his family to northern New York, where her early education was imparted by private tutors; but she subsequently passed two years at College Hills seminary. She was married, in 1860, to John P. Ramsey, and with her husband went to live in the south, where they resided until the outbreak of the Rebellion, when, on account of diametrical differences of opinion between themselves and the inhabitants, they returned to the north, but at a large sacrifice of personal and other property.
Here, in 1864, the husband was called from life, and she became the wife of Joshua Truitt, an energetic business man of Muncie, Ind., but now retired, and whose biographical sketch will be found above. During the Civil war Mrs. Truitt was untiring in her labors in behalf of the boys at the front, preparing bandages and scraping lint for the use of the surgeons, and collecting provisions, clothing, blankets, and hundreds of other things useful and needful to the soldiers.
But the close of the war did not end her good work. Her benevolent mind was still act- ive, and sought wider fields for usefulness and the exercise of that charity which seems to be an inherent part of her nature. For many years she has been an earnest and faithful worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance union, and has long been president of the Dela- ware County union. Eloquent, methodical and business like, she has invariabiy acted as delegate from the local to the district, state and national conventions. For many years she has been an attendant of the Presbyterian church, and was the Indiana temperance dele-
gate to the International Sunday-school con- vention held at Pittsburg, Pa., in June, 1890, and her report of its proceedings was accepted without alteration or amendment, which fact speaks well for her accuracy, lucidity, and also her logical trend of thought.
As a member of the industrial school at Muncie, she has willingly made any sacrifice to render her services useful, either as officer or in the performance of duties pertaining to the executive department, or as the earnest worker at stated meetings. Her frequent visits to the homes of the poor are proverbially welcome, for she carries with her not only sympathy and wise counsel, but equally needed food and rai- ment; and in this connection it may be said that there is probably no other one woman in Muncie known to more children than Mrs. Truitt, who is constantly performing for them some work of kindness, be it great or small. Indeed, she would hardly be at peace with her- self, it she were not, at all times, so engaged. She has never had any children of her own, but has taken into her household, however, the four children of her deceased brother, and over these she continues to keep the watchful eye of a mother, and to perform for them all those duties that the most tender and loving mother could find in her heart to perform.
Mrs. Truitt is possessed of an intuitive knowledge of human character, approaching clairvoyance, and added to this rare faculty is a magnetism that makes her own presence felt wherever she may be-in company with the single individual or while stationed before a multitudinous and mixed audience. Her perceptive and receptive faculties are most descriminative, and it requires no mental effort on her part to select the real from the ficti- tious-to seperate the wheat from the chaff. Being keenly anticipative, she arrives at a climax before a proposition has been half argued; or at a sequel before a story has been
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half narrated; and they are those qualities that render her invaluable as a debater or as a presiding officer. In oratory and literature, no one who has read or has listened to one of her carefully prepared addresses has failed to be impressed with its rare merit as to profund- ity of thought and lucidity of terms. In artist- ic matters her eye is alert and her hand apt in harmonizing colors and forming groupings, and there can be no doubt but that, had she earlier turned her attention to art, she would stand to-day, in the eyes of the world, as high in that department as she does in the depart- ment of literature. Her moral nature is sweet and beautiful, and, while not blind to the shortcomings of others, she is not censorious, but is always willing to see the "beam" in her own eye. Benevolence is the one under- lying trait of her character, and, being with- out envy or malice, or weak yearning for pop- ularity, she prefers to let her quiet work speak her motives rather than garrulous disputation, by mouth or pen, with those who may too in- dividiously criticize her utterances and actions.
a DWARD TUHEY-Among the suc- cessful self-made men of Muncie de- serving mention, the name of Edward Tuhey is especially prominent. The subject's father, Patrick Tuhey, of county Cork, Ireland, where his birth occurred in the year 1815, came to the United States when a young man, and for some years thereafter re- sided in Greene, Madison and Montgomery counties, Ohio. He assisted in grading and constructing the Little Miami railroad, and in 1853 came to Muncie, Ind., as a contractor on the old Bee Line railroad. Being pleased with this city, he decided to make it his resi- dence; engaged in contracting and building of all kinds of public works, being identified with
the city in these interests for forty years, and he passed the residue of his days here. He passed from earth July 2, 1893. He was a man of energy and determination, worked diligently all his life and died lamented by all who knew him. By his marriage with Nancy Mahony, of Dayton, Ohio, Patrick Tuhey had a family of five children, namely: Edward, Patrick J., Blanch, Anna and Mamie, all living except Patrick J., who died shortly after attaining his majority.
Edward Tuhey first saw the light of day in Muncie, Ind., January 10, 1857. Being the eldest son, he was early obliged to contribute his share toward the support of the family, consequently his education was obtained under many difficulties. During his youthful years he attended the schools of Muncie, and later, in order to procure the necessary money to enable him to prosecute his studies in the higher branches of learning, he herded sheep and fed stock for A. G. Harrison, a farmer of Mt. Pleasant township, and in a like capacity for one Russell Williams, this being in the winters of 1876-78. After an attendance at a normal school for one term, Mr. Tuhey was sufficiently advanced in his studies to procure a teacher's license, and for the greater part of the succeeding eight years he was engaged in educational work in the district schools of Delaware county. For one year he was super- intendent of the public schools of Fowler, this state, but in 1887 he abandoned the field of education and engaged in real estate trans- actions in the city of Muncie. Later he became proprietor of the National hotel in this city, once known as the Haines house, and after ministering to the wants of the traveling pub- for two years, sold out, and effected a co- partnership in contracting for street paving and sewer work with Thomas Kinser, which relationship continued about two years, under the firm name of Kinser & Tuhey, during the
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life of which partnership many contracts for the construction of sewers, street paving, etc., in Muncie and other Indiana cities were exe- cuted. At the dissolution of the partnership, Mr. Tuhey continued the business alone with gratifying success for two years; doing a large amount of work in Muncie and other places. In 1892 he assisted in organizing the Muncie Iron & Steel works of which he was made secretary and treasurer, and to which he now devotes his entire attention.
From the foregoing it will be seen that Mr. Tuhey's career has been one of unceasing activity; and his success is such as few men attain in a much longer life. In the prosecu- tion of his various enterprises he has exercised ability of high order, and his reputation as a thoroughly honorable and conscientious busi- ness man has never been impeached, nor have his integrity and honesty ever been questioned. Not only has he been successful in the aquisi- tion of wealth, but he has manifested a com- mendable purpose in its use, which does not always accompany the talent for gaining riches. Every movement of public enterprise or private benevolence finds in him a ready assistant. He is one of Muncie's most sub- stantial citizens, and in business circles enjoys a reputation much more than local.
Mr. Tuhey was married March 10, 1879, to Mary McKinley, daughter of Joseph W. and Elizabeth (Darrah) Mckinley, of Delaware county, the result of which union are the fol- lowing children: Carl, Earl, Walter, Nellie, Ray and Edward, all living at this time.
INUS TURNER(deceased) .-- Among the early settlers of Muncie there were but few who took a more active part in the improvement of the town than Mr. Turner. He was long
engaged in the manufacture of brick, and erected the first brick house in the town, and his residence on west Main street was the first brick house in the county. In whatever he engaged he was actuated by a laudable ambi- tion ts excel. He was one of the early mer- chants of Muncie, and was identified with its mercantile interests until the infirmities of age caused his retirement life. Minus Turner was born May 22, 1807, near the city of Dover, Del., and was scarcely more than an infant when he accompanied his father's family to Kentucky. All his school experience was limited to the crude system in vogue at that time in the latter state; and for whatever knowledge he acquired in later years, he was indebted to his own individual effort. In 1823, he removed with his father's family to Randolph county, Ind., where he remained six years. He came to Muncie in 1829, and engaged in bricklaying and plastering. In 1831, he was married, in Randolph county, Ind., to Eliza C. Bowen, who died in Muncie. In October, 1833, he married Miss Fanny Marshall, who survives him. She is the daughter of John and Nancy Marshall, early settlers of Muncie.
Mr. Turner was engaged at his trade until 1838, when he erected the brick block on the corner of Walnut and Main streets, which was destroyed by fire a few years ago, and suc- ceeded by the Patterson block. In this build- ing-then one of the finest in the town-he enjoyed his first experience as a hotel keeper, and won the regard of the traveling public, proving himself a genial host, and one ever- solicitous for the welfare and comfort of his guests. He was thus engaged for nine or ten years, at the end of which time he sold out and erected a brick storeroom at the east end of the same lot, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In less than a year thereafter he sold out, resuming work at his trade; and, in 1861, he and his son, Leonidas L., engaged in
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the boot and shoe business, and conducted a very satisfactory trade until the senior mem- ber of the firm felt the necessity of retiring from the tedium of active business life. The store was sold to William Lynn, and Mr. Turner led a retired life until his death. He settled in an infant community, and, by his untiring labors at his trade, advanced step by step, on the road to wealth, prospering with the community, and lending a helping hand in its advancement and public improvements. He always possessed a nature that drew friends to him, and has ever retained the confidence and esteem of those with whom he had been associated through life. His second marriage was blessed by nine children, viz .: Millie, Leonidas L., Charles M., Jane, Lycurgus C., Matilda A., Eliza, Nancy E. and Martha A.
ILLIAM D. TURNER, retired super- intendent, Muncie, Ind., was born in Manchester, Carroll county, Md., in 1816, the son of William and Charlotte F. (Droud) Turner. The family moved to Hanover, York county, Pa., when William D. was but three years old, and the father, who was originally from the New Eng- land states, died when the lad was quite young, and the latter was not more than seventeen when he lost his mother. His instruction at school was somewhat imperfect, inasmuch as it was partly in English and partly in German. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed at Hanover, York county, for four years, to the cabinet maker's trade, and, having learned it, worked as a journeyman at Baltimore, Md., and elsewhere, until 1844. Going to Cincin- nati, Ohio, he was superintendent for the Kammlsburg furniture factory for about five years, putting in the machinery; then started a furniture machinery factory on his own account,
but was four years later burned out, at a total loss; he then went to Bellefontaine, Ohio, went into partnership, added his new inven- tions in machinery for cabinet making, and within six months this concern was consumed by fire, and the loss total; he then superintended another factory at Cincinnati until the firm dissolved; then remodeled the factory of Cooley, Newkirk & Co., at Connersville, Ind., and superintended for some time. In 1871 he located in Muncie, Ind., superintended the Muncie Machine Co.'s works, and afterward those of its successors, Wysor, Hammett & Co., and their successors, at pattern making, until about 1891, when advancing age warned him to retire.
In 1852 Mr. Turner was married to Miss Phebe A. DeRoads, of Columbiana, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with ten chil- dren, six of whom live to console and comfort the declining years of their father, he having lost his life-partner in June, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years. The surviving children are Miss Addie M., a leading dressmaker of Muncie; Sophie, wife of Mr. Oliver Smith, son of the Hon. Mark Smith, of Muncie; Sarah, wife of J. Rieff, a telegraph operator at Philadelphia, Pa .; Mary J., wife of Mr. A. Jones, printer, Philadelphia; Florence and Cora, at home. One of the sons, William Henry, died at home from disease contracted in the army, and one son and two daughters died in in- fancy.
Mr. Turner was united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1838, was licensed as a local preacher in 1839, and was subsequently ordained by Bishop Jayne an elder. He has been a class leader in the Muncie High street church for the past ten years, and while a member of the local preachers' association for north Indiana, did active and efficient work at the weaker points in Delaware and adjoining counties. His life has been well spent.
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a ALVIN S. WACHTELL, a prominent business man, dealing in harness, etc., in Muncie, Ind , was born near Columbus, Ohio, December 1, 1837, a son of Jonathan and Parmelia (Baxter) Wachtell, natives of Pennsylvania and Mary- land, respectively. They came to Muncie, Ind., in 1839, where the father engaged in the manufacture of furniture and chairs. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and he was instrumental in establishing the first church of that denomination in Mun- cie, and served as deacon and trustee of the same. Politically he was a democrat, and during life firmly upheld the principles of that party. His death occurred in 1850, leaving a wife and six children. His wife survived him until 1891, and five of the children are still living. The family was as follows: Eveline, now Mrs. William Barnes, of Muncie; John A., of Muncie; Andrew J., of Muncie; Henry H., deceased, and Calvin S. Calvin S. Wachtell was brought by his parents to this city when he was but two years of age, and received a public school education. He learned the excellent trade of harness making and has, every since that time, followed the same busi- ness. In 1874 he was called upon by the citi- zens to fill the office of city clerk and auditor, and for twelve years he acceptably filled those positions. In 1879 he established his present harness and wagon business, and is the oldest dealer in those lines in the city. He has become prominent in business circles, as he has been progressive and enterprising. He is the present secretary of the Co-operative Natural Gas company, and is a member of the Citizens' Enterprise company.
Politically Mr. Wachtell is a republican, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is recognized as one of the most progressive citizens in the city, and his great financial success has all been attained by his own ef-
forts. He receives, as he deserves, the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Wachtell was married, in 1862, to Miss Susan L. Anderson, daughter of John Anderson, of Niles township, and one son, F. L. Wachtell, has been born of this marriage. F. L. Wach- tell was born in 1863, was educated in the Muncie schools, passing through the high school, and in 1879 was admitted by his father into partnership. In 1888 he married Miss Leonora Deitsch, a daughter of Chief of Police Deitsch of the city of Cincinnati. The two families are among the best in the city of Muncie and enjoy the respect and esteem of all. Mr. Wachtell and wife are members of the Christian church of Muncie, and in this body he holds the offices of deacon and clerk.
0 UINCE WALLING, superintendent of the Muncie Water and Gas com- pany, is a native of Delaware county, born in the city of Muncie, June I, 1865. He received his education in the pub- lic schools of Muncie, which he attended until his sixteenth year, and then accepted a clerk- ship in the grocery house of James Charman, in which capacity he continued for a period of about two years. Severing his connection with the mercantile business, Mr. Walling next took service with the Muncie Artificial Gas company as street lamp lighter, and after a year in that capacity became collector for the concern, which at the time was owned and controlled by the American Water Works & Guarantee company, which operated plants in various parts of the United States. In 1886 he was given charge of the plant at Marion, Ind., where he remained one year, at the end of which time he returned to Muncie and re- sumed the duties of collectorship, continuing the same until his elevation to the superintend-
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ency on the 1st of April, 1890. Since that year Mr. Walling has had charge of both plants, gas and water works, and the ability with which he has discharged the duties of the position has won for him the highest encomi- ums from the company with which he is iden- tified, as well as the praise of the public to whose comfort he has so long and so efficiently ministered. Mr. Walling is a young man of much more than ordinary intelligence and business capacity, a gentleman in whom the people repose the most implicit confidence, and he is considered by all one of the wide-awake and substantial citizens of Muncie. He is an active member of the Muncie lodge, No. 74, I. O. O. F., of DeEmber tribe, No. 30, I. O. R. M., and also belongs to the B. P. O. Elks lodge, No. 245. Mr. Walling was married September 19, 1889, to Miss Gertrude A. Shick, daughter of Leonard and Psyche Shick, of Centre township, Delaware county, to which union one child, Helen E., has been born.
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ILLIAM WALLING, now living re- tired from active business life, is a well known and highly respected citizen, and an ex-official of Dela- ware county, Ind. He was born in Wayne county, Ind., February 3, 1819, a son of Jos- eph and Mary (Thomas) Walling, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Wales. The parents were among the pioneers of Wayne county, Ind., where they settled about 1817. By trade, Mr. Walling, the elder, was a tanner, and erected tanneries in Wayne county and at Connersville, in Fay- ette county. In 1832 he came to Delaware county and settled in Perry township, where he cleared a farm and also erected a tannery. A tract of land was entered by him in Perry and Centre townships, and this land is now
occupied by the Hemingwray and Over glass companies. He was a stockholder in the Bee. Line railroad and was regarded as a safe and sensible business man. Politically, he was a democrat, and his death occurred in 1864. Mrs. Walling survived him until 1883. Jo- seph and Mary Walling reared a family of nine children, as follows: Francis, deceased; Anna, now deceased, was Mrs. William Scott; Thompson, a resident of Henry county, Ind. ; William; Mark, of Muncie; Sarah, now dead, was Mrs. John Powers; John, of Muncie; Jonathan, deceased, and Joseph, deceased.
William Walling accompanied his parents to Delaware county when thirteen years of age, was educated in the common schools, after which he learned the trade of tanner with his father. In 1835, in connection with his father and his brother-in-law, he purchased a tannery in Muncie and enlarged it and operated the same for several years. He also cleared up a farm in Centre township, upon which he resi- ded for a number of years. Mr. Walling has been a very valuable and important citizen and was one of the organizers of the Five Points Gas Well company; is a member of the Citi- zens' Enterprise company, and a stockholder in the Citizen's National bank. Socially he is connected with the I. O. O. F. and politically he is a democrat. Formerly he was a repub- lican, but in late years he views public ques- tions differently, and now votes with the other great party. In 1854 he was elected sheriff of Delaware county, and acceptably filled that position for four years.
In 1843 Mr. Walling married Miss Mary Hamilton, a daughter of Stephen Hamilton, of Hamilton township, but she died in 1858, leav- ing him a family of four children: Salina, Ellen, deceased; Ann, wife of N. B. Powers, of Muncie, and Mary, deceased wife of James Campbell. Mr. Walling next was married, in 1862, to Miss Lucetta Smith, a daughter of
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John Smith, of Centre township, and two sons have been born of this union, John and Mark. Mrs. Walling is a member of the High street Methodist Episcopal church.
OLLIN WARNER, city attotney of Muncie, was born in Blountsville, Henry county, Ind., April 18, 1856, son of Eli and Emily (Bunch) War- ner, natives respectively of New and Vermont, who settled in the above counry about the year 1850. Tbe father was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits for a period of twenty years and departed this life in 1871.
Rollin Warner received his rudimentary education in the township schools, later at- tended the National Normal at Lebanon, Ohio, after which he entered his father's store, and after the latter's death conducted the business for some years. Having early mani- fested a decided preference for the legal pro- fession, he determined to make it his life work; accordingly he began the study of the same in the office of Monks & Thompson of Winches- ter, and was admitted to the bar in the coun- ties of Randolph, Henry and Delaware in the year 1879. For a period of ten years, from 1879 to 1889, he practiced his profession in New Castle, and then removed to Muncie, where he has since remained, having in the meantime built up a large and lucrative business in Delaware and other counties. With a mind naturally capable, well developed and enriched by close study and critical experience, he has become one of the ablest lawyers of Muncie, and his connection with a number of very important cases, here and elsewhere, has gained for him much more than a state repu- tation. He was one of the counsel which de- fended Lake, Smeltzer, Roswell and Smith, who were tried for the murder of Eli Ladd,
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