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 50
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judgment being seldom wrong in matters of business policy, and he may be regarded as a noted example of those principles which win success. Fraternally, Mr. Wood is a Mason of high standing, having taken all the Scottish rite degrees and filled the various positions of the York rite. Politically, he has ever been a supporter of the republican party, and in re- ligion subscribes to the Methodist creed. belonging with his wife to the High street church of Muncie. Mr. Wood and Miss Clara Morgan, of Wayne county, Ind., daughter of William and Sarah Morgan, were united in marriage October 10, 1867, the offspring of which union is one child, Charles A. Wood, a civil engineer of Muncie.
HILIP W. PATTERSON is the youngest son of Philip and Nancy A. (Kinkaid) Patterson. His father was a Virginia farmer and raised a family of three sons and four daughters, of whom there are living to-day the eldest brother, Amaziah B., a farmer in Henry county, Ind., and two widowed sisters, living near Fairmont, W. Va., viz: Mary Ann Ross and Clemenza Swearingen. Philip W. Patterson was born on a farm in Marion county, W. Va., April 10, 1829. His boyhood and youth were spent at- tending the common schools of that period and working on the farm until he reached his majority, when he learned the trade of a tanner. On completing his apprenticeship, he established a tannery of his own near Fair- mont, W. Va., and operated it ยท successfully from 1850 to 1859; at which time he disposed of his interests and migrated to Indiana, set- tling in Henry county, at the head of Buck creek, three miles from the village of Luray. Here Mr. Patterson purchased a comparatively new farm, and during his residence of twenty-
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two years there he cleared up and improved a large portion thereof and erected upon it superior farm buildings and other improve- ments.
Mr. Patterson moved to Muncie in 1881 primarily for the purpose of securing better advantages of education and society for his family. He, however, still retains his real estate interests at his old home in Henry county, which consists of 275 acres of land adjacent to Buck creek, and consisting of rich, alluvial bottom and uplands, well watered and under a high state of cultivation. During Mr. Patterson's residence there he was successfully engaged in raising both stock and grain. Since coming to Muncie, he has devoted his time to the supervising and caring for his farm interests in Henry county and renting his properties in Muncie. In politics, Mr. Patter- son has been a republican since the time of Abraham Lincoln, having previously been a whig; and while always active in the advance- ment of his party's interest, had never allowed his name to be used in connection with any position of trust during the earlier and more active period of his life. In 1891, he was elected councilman from the Fourth ward of Muncie, and is at present ably and con- scientiously representing his constituents in that body. During the last three years, Coun- cilman Patterson has been actively identified in the vast public improvements inaugurated in this city, being chairman of the committee on streets and alleys and serving on several other important committees.
Mr. Patterson united with the Methodist Protestant church when twenty-four years of age, and, during the entire years of his man- hood, has been not only a zealous worker in building up the spiritual interests of the church, but in three different communities, in which he lived, has aided with a beneficent hand in advancing the material interests of the church.
He serves his church here as trustee, and with untiring zeal. He has contributed liberally both of his time and means to the erection of the beautiful new church on Jackson street. Mr. Patterson was married in 1854 to Miss Rebecca Graham, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Thomas) Graham, of Fairmont, W. Va. Of this marriage, eleven children have been born, five of whom died in infancy. The others are Rosa Lee, wife of I. T. Lake, a prominent grocer of Muncie; Florence V., wife of Henry Klein, a leading jeweler of Muncie; Mary Frances, widow of the late F. M. Boyer, of Muncie; Bertha May and Sylvia G., are still at home with their parents; Cora P. was the wife of John F. Shore and died at the home of her father, September 25, 1893, at the age of twenty-one.
ILLIAM NEEDAM WHITELY is one of those generous, talented and gifted men that Ohio is so proud to number among her famous sons. He has sounded the same of his native city and state in every country in the world, and his inventive genius has benefited all mankind. The city of Muncie is fortunate in adding to her citizenship one whose inventive genius has already built one flourishing city, and which will materially insure her own future growth and prosperity. Mr. Whitley was born August 3, 1835, near the city of Springfield, Clarke county, Ohio. He was the eldest of six chil- dren, and his father, Andrew Whitely, was a farmer and a man of ability. William's boy- hood days were spent in school, and in assist- ing his father on the farm, where he acquired an experience in agricultural life which was destined to shape his future career. He early showed a fondness for tools and machinery. At the age of seventeen he invented a breech-
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loading rifle, which was so successful that the same principle is still used in the breech-load- ing cannon of the most improved pattern, and in the rifle of the present day. While labori- ously wielding the cradle and scythe in his father's fields, the great need of a speedier and easier method of harvesting so impressed itself on his mind, that the invention of labor-saving machinery for the farmer became the great ob- ject of his life. His first idea of a reaper was a huge pair of shears, each cut of which was to make a sheaf. The application of horse power to harvesting grain had long been thought of and some active minds had undertaken the so- lution of the problem. Gladstone and Bell, in England, fully fifteen years previous, had failed to make it practical; McCormick, Hus- sey, Ampler and others had attempted to solve the difficulties that could not be overcome in the seventeenth century, but none of them, with the exception of Hussey, had been successful. It was nearly two years after his first concep- tion of a reaper that an old Hussey machine came into the neighborhood, and from that time until now Mr. Whitely's life has been devoted to the construction of a perfect har- vesting machine. The year following, he left the farm and went to Springfield to learn the machinist's trade with Hatch & Whitely, the latter being his uncle; he remained with that firm while it continued in business, and later became owner of its little plant. He now stood upon the threshold of a great career; he saw before him the mighty possibilities of the agricultural resources of this country ; his early experience told him what was needed to de- velop them, and he set to work to construct a harvesting machine. His creative genius, combined with untiring energy and close at- tention, brought the desired result, and in 1852 there sprung from his brain the greatest inven- tion of his age. His was a complete machine from the first; it has been added to and beau-
tified, but the original idea was full fledged and complete. Mr. Whitely constructed one reaper during that year and twenty-five during the next; operating them in the harvest of 1853, ahd improving and developing them in 1854. In 1855, he perfected and manufac- tured for the trade the first combined self- raking reaper and mower. In 1856, Mr. Whitely entered into partnership with Jerome Fassler, and the following year, Mr. Oliver S. Kelley joined the firm, since which time, in all thirty-six years, Mr. Kelley has had some in- terests directly or indirectly with Mr. Whitely. Such untiring energy, such determination and pluck always succeed, and it did with Mr. Whitely.
By 1860, all obstacles had been surmount- ed; his business increased and prospered. The firms established through his instrumen- tality were those of Whitely, Fassler & Kelley, The Champion Machine Co., and Warder, Bushnell & Glessner; the latter concerns building Whitely Champion machines under royalty; also the Whitely Malleable Iron works, and two factories in Canada. one of which was The Toronto Reaper works. These combined concerns employed 4,500 men and manufac- tured 60,000 machines per year. They did a business of $10,000,000 a year, and extended the name of Mr. Whitely to every part of the civilized world.
Mr. Whitely constructed the largest manu- facturing establishment conducted on private capital on this continent, covering forty-five acres of ground, and costing $1,000,000 to equip, employing 2,800 men. Meeting some business reverses, he sold the great East street shops, of Springfield, as they are called, and sought the natural gas fields of Indiana, where free fuel and other natural advantages render it possible to manufacture at less cost than in any other locality. He selected Muncie as the best city in the gas belt, and erected his
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factory on the north side of White river; other factories are locating near him, and already an enterprising suburb has sprung into existence, which bears the name of Whitely. With possibly one exception, Mr. Whitely has taken out more patents than any other living Ameri- can, and is interested in nearly 1,000 patents on harvesting machinery; he has designed probably 100 different styles of grain binders, terminating in what is know as the Whitely Open-End Harvesting binder. Being a small, light machine, with an unlimited capacity for handling the shortest or longest length of straw, he received a gold medal at the World's fair on his machine. The output of Mr. Whitely's factory will do more than any other to extend the name of Muncie as a manufac- turing city, not only over the entire United States, but into foreign countries. The Whitely mower and the Whitely Open-End binders are the only perfected machines of their kind to-day, and the demand for them is constantly increasing. It is this finished product that will advertise the city nf Mr. Whitely's adoption. Mr. Whitely is a man of prodigious mental and physical power, and of remarkable endurance. He is a most cour- teous gentleman, affable in manner, and gen- erous to a fault; his donations to charity and public enterprise have been made often and with great liberality: His busy, active life fills a bright page in the archives of American history, already replete with the records and deeds of distinguished men. Mr. Whitely was married to Miss Mary Gove, of Spring- field, in 1867, where he resided continuously until his removal to Muncie.
The new town of Whitely, adjoining Mun- cie, already contains over 200 dwellings, has an electric street railway, a beautiful park and natural gas in great force. The general office of the Whitely Land company is at 100 west Washington street, Muncie.
S AMUEL DYER, superintendent of William N. Whitely Co's Harvesting Machine works, Muncie, Ind., was born in Somersetshire, England, Sep- tember 26, 1846. He attended the public schools until eleven years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of machinist and model maker, at which he served seven years. He subsequently worked four years as a journeyman machinist for his old employers, then immigrated to America, at the age of twenty-two, and having acquaintances at Mans- field, Ohio, from his native country, he first located there and found employment with the Mansfield Machine works, in which he worked on reapers and mowers two years.
He was next employed in the same city by the firm of Blymer, Day & Co., where he worked as machinist on farm implements for three years. He then formed a co-partnership with Ferris Ogden, and engaged in repair and experimental work, also in making all kinds of models. This partnership lasted six years, and, during this period, Messrs. Dyer & Ogden em- barked in experimental work in self binders and twine knotters on their own account. They progressed successfully in this work, to the extent of placing a complete self binder in the field. Having carried this project forward to the full extent of their means, they solicited the attention of the "reaper king," William N. Whitely, of Springfield, Ohio, to the results of their work, the result of this interview result- ing in the permanent engagement of Mr. Dyer as a co-worker in the great reaper works, at Springfield, Ohio.
Mr. Dyer began operations as a model maker, and progressed from that to experi- mental work, and later to invention, a field in which he has taken active part and interest for the last fifteen years. He served Mr. Whitely as foreman of the binder department, and later was transferred to the knotter de-
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partment, and ultimately was given full supervision of the patent office department, in which he continued until the William N. Whitely company transferred its manu- facturing interests from Springfield, Ohio, to Muncie, Ind., in 1892. In November of that year, Mr. Dyer removed to Muncie, and was installed as superintendent of the com- pany's works here, which position he has filled ever since, in an able and successful manner.
Mr. Dyer was married in England, in 1864, to Miss Catherine Pullman, of Devon- shire. Seven children have blessed this union; they are, Fredrick H. Dyer, foreman of the large Whitely machine shop at San Francisco, Cal .; Henry Dyer, tool maker for the Chicago Screw company, Chicago, Ill. The five younger children, Nellie, Mattie, Frank, Edith and Florence, are still at home with their parents.
3 ACOB H. WYSOR, capitalist, miller and farmer, is one of the earliest pio- neers and most prominent business men of Muncie. His parents, Jacob and Margaret (Miller) Wysor, were of German de- scent, and were born in Virginia. His pater- nal grandfather was a commissioned officer in the war for American independence. All the Wysors' ancestors engaged more less in tilling the soil, and were honest, hard-working peo- ple, endowed with that strength of body and mind characteristic of the Teutonic race. As a valued heirloom, Mr. Wysor preserves a quaint old wine chest made in Germany 180 years ago. Mr. Wysor was born in Montgomery (now Pu- laski) county, Va., December 6, 1819. He was the only child of his father, who died before his birth. His mother married again, but re- mained in Montgomery county until her son was well advanced in boyhood. In 1835 he re- moved with the family to Delaware county,
Ind., quite an event for a boy who had scarcely been out of his native county. In his new home he attended school, but only for two win- ter terms, and after five years he returned to Virginia, and there studied diligently for one year. Having acquired a good knowledge of the English branches, Mr. Wysor was ready to carry out his long cherished purpose of becom- ing a business man. Accordingly, in the fol- lowing year (1841) he returned to this state and engaged in the grocery and dry goods trade in Muncie. He felt, in some degree, conscious of the abilities that have since marked his career and won him success, and he anticipa- ted immediate prosperity. His way to for- tune, however, lay through loss, for only a few months had passed when nearly all his prop- erty was burned. In March, 1843, he made another venture by renting what was known as the Gilbert mills; and, after two years in part- nership with John Jack and James L. Russey, he bought the mills and conducted the busi- ness as one of the firm of Russey, Jack & Co. In 1849 Mr. Wysor joined the throng of gold seekers that hurried toward California. . His course was down the Mississippi, across the Gulf of Mexico, thence over to Panama, where, owing to the rush for berths, he was compelled to wait five weeks before a passage up the coast could be secured. At length he em- barked in a sailing vessel, which was thirty- four days in making the voyage to San Fran- cisco. After he had been there about two months, Mr. Russey followed by the same route, but was killed by the Indians in the summer of 1850. Mr. Wysor engaged suc- cessfully as miner, teamster and stock tra- der, until May, 1852, when he returned to Muncie. In 1854, with the remain- ing partner, Mr. Jack, he began build- ing the large grist-mill, which he still owns, known as the Muncie mills. It was completed in 1856. It contained six run of
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stone, was provided with every needed facility, and was considered at least equal to any mill of like capacity in the state. The firm was Wysor & Jack until the death of the latter, in October, 1859. In 1858 William B. Kline had been admitted as a partner, and on the death of Mr. Jack the firm became Wysor & Kline. Through the crisis of 1857, and the depression of trade that resulted from the late war, he steadily and safely conducted his in- creasing business. He dealt largely in land, and availed himself of his early experience by engaging also in farming. As wealth increased, it was employed in useful enterprises-the building of railroads, turnpikes and other im- provements. He has been the president of the Muncie & Granville Turnpike company ever since its organization. In 1872 Mr. Wysor built the Wysor opera house. In 1892 he erected the Wysor Grand, one of the finest buildings in the city, and said to be one of the most complete structures for theatrical enter- tainments in Indiana. Mr. Wysor is a demo- crat, but has never aspired to political honors, nor taken an active interest in politics. He married, April 5, 1854, Miss Sarah Richardson, daughter of John and Martha Richardson. She was born in Virginia, and comes of a long
line of worthy English ancestors. She is a lady of refined taste and true christian graces, and, with her husband, takes great pride in the education of their children-Harry, Mat- tie and William. The first named, their eldest, is a young man of culture, whom ill health has caused to relinquish a professional for a business life. The daughter early evinced artistic talent, painting with skill at the age of nine; she is now the wife of Will- iam H. Marsh, bank cashier. Mr. Wysor has succeeded through natural adaptation to busi- ness rather than by acquired ability. In trade he acts intuitively, and every enterprise is attended with prosperity. He has gained
his wealth by honorable means, sharing its benefits with others, in promoting the growth of Muncie and the surrounding country. He is a silent, thoughtful man, possessing genuine worth of character, which is fully revealed only to intimate friends. To know him well is to respect him, and he holds a high place in the esteem of the people of Delaware county.
Since the above sketch was put in type, the sad news has come to hand that Mrs. Sarah Wysor passed away November 6, 1893.
OUNG & KESSLER .- The hardware firm of Young & Kessler is one of the best known and most substantial firms in Muncie. It is composed of William H. F. Young and John P. Kessler, both young, active, energetic, and conservative business men. They first embarked in the hardware business February 1, 1884, purchas- ing the hardware stock and business of L. & C. A. Shick; and for the first five years Sam- uel Martin was associated with them under the firm name of Martin, Young & Kessler, at the old Shick stand on west Main street. On February 1, 1889, Mr. Samuel Martin retired from the business and the firm name became Young & Kessler. During the year 1893, in
the face of business depression, they had the courage and enterprise to erect one of the handsomest business blocks in the city of Muncie. The building of such a structure marks an epoch in commercial affairs, and will do much to enlarge the general business inter- ests of the city. Their new block is on east Jackson street, between Walnut and Mulberry, and is a three-story brick structure 100x40 feet, with pressed brick front and stone trimmings. It is supplied with water throughout, has a freight elevator, and is one of the best blocks and most conveniently arranged business
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houses in the city. The entire ground floor and part of the second story were fitted up especially for the business of Young & Kessler. On the first floor their stock of hardware, stoves, mixed paints and mantels, is arranged in attractive style. The storage room and tin shop are on the second floor. A brief personal sketch of the partners is given below, since they are typical self-made men, and furnish the rising generation with a worthy example to emulate.
William H. F. Young, son of Martin and Minerva (Pittenger) Young, was born in Mun- cie, on the 12th day of December, 1852. He attended the public schools of the city, until he reached his seventeenth year, when he en- tered business life as a clerk in the hardware store of Putnam & Kirby. He continued in their employ for fifteen years, and up to the date of entering into business for himself. as noted above. Mr. Young's position among the business men of Muncie has been attained by his own efforts, and without material aid from others. His experience in the hardware trade, aided by his progressive tendencies, furnishes the key to his success. Mr. Young was first married September 10, 1879, to Miss Adelia F. Keen, who died September 8, 1882, and he was married, the second time, Novem- ber 27, 1884, to Miss Mary C. Williamson, daughter of James and Hannah (Smith) Wil- liamson, of Hamilton township, and of this marriage there is one daughter-Blanche, born August 6, 1888.
Mr. Young is a republican in politics, and served as a member of the city council for two years from the First ward. He is also a con- sistent member of the High street Methodist Episcopal church and an active member of the I. O. O. F.
John P. Kessler is a son of Joseph and Marinda (Ireland) Kessler, and was born in New Paris, Preble county, Ohio, April 13,
1851. After receiving an elementary educa- tion in the public schools, he learned the trade of tinner in his native town. In 1870 he worked as journeyman in New Paris, Ohio. He came to Indiana in 1871, and for two years worked at his trade at Anderson. In June, 1873, he came to Muncie, and for two years worked in the tin department for L. & W. Shick. He next pursued his trade for seven years in the employ of Mr. Green, in his tin shop. At the formation, in 1884, of the firin of Martin, Young & Kessler, he became an active partner. Mr. Kessler's reputation as a skillful and reliable contractor of all kinds of tin work has brought to his firm a large share of the tin and metal roofing and other work of its class in Muncie. This department is fully equipped with skillful assistants, and its opera- tions will no doubt be largely increased by the ample facilities afforded in their new establish- ment.
Mr. Kessler was married June 7, 1877, to Miss Sarah Kate Young, a sister of his partner. Mr. Kessler is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a master Ma- son, also a member of the I. O. O. F., and is at present presiding officer of Muncie lodge, No. 74.
A RTHUR F. PATTERSON, capitalist and retired worker in copper, brass and tin, of Muncie, Ind., was born in Bracken county, Ky., in 1822, and in 1831 or 1832 was taken by his father, Ander- son Patterson, to Clermont county, Ohio, where the latter made settlement on a farm near the old Gen. Grant homestead. In 1838 Authur F. began a three years' apprentship at tinsmithing, then went to Cincinnati and served a year at copper and bright work, next worked as a journeyman three years, and then formed a co-partnership under the firm name
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of Patterson & Conley, on Front street, be- tween Broadway and Ludlow street, Cincin- nati, and did a large business in copper and lead pipe, bright iron and tin work on steam- boats until 1847, when fire destroyed the plant, and the insurance having expired the night previous, the loss was almost total and amounted to $5,000. Mr. Patterson, how- ever, paid all his debts, and without money went to St. Louis, and for a year worked at coppersmithing; then for two years was man- ager for the J. & G. Quigley shops at Alton, Ill .; saved his money, and with $800 arrived in Muncie, Ind., May 15, 1850. His mother and brother had moved to Yorktown, Ind., about 1848 and he had come to see them. How- ever, while at Muncie, J. & L. Shick gave him employment, and on the 12th day of January, 1851, Mr. Patterson bought that firm out, in- vesting all his means. A short time afterward, he took in a partner, Charles P. Sample, the firm name established as Patterson & Sample, and the site fixed at the spot where the R. Meeks & Son furniture store now is. They added stoves to their stock, did copper and plumbing work, and put two wagons on the road.
Three years later they bought a tin and stove store at Marion, ran it a year, and then sold. In 1855 and 1856 they bought out Neal Mccullough's hardware store, called the "Pio- neer," ran both branches a year or so, sold out the tin and stove business and enlarged the hardware department, adding farm implements of all kinds, and did an immense business until 1866 or 1867, when they sold to George Seitz, and, going to Indianapolis, formed a joint stock company, composed of Daniel Yandies, George McKernan, Delos Root, J .. R. Root, Dr. Pierce, Mr. Sinker, C. P. Sample and A. F. Patterson. This company went to Brazil,
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