USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Biographical cyclopedia of Vanderburgh County, Indiana : embracing biographies of many of the prominent men and families of the county > Part 13
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Though the residence of Mr. Chap- pell in our midst has been a short one, he has already achieved an enviable reputation as a profound lawyer and an intrepid debater. He is painstaking, conscientious and thoroughly devoted to the interests of his clients. . As a man he is "of the tribe of God Almighty's gentlemen," a genial com- panion and a steadfast friend.
CHARLES A. BREHMER,
A' RCHITECT, of Evansville, was born September 23, 1860, at Glencoe, Cook county, Illinois, and is the son of Charles A. and Mary A. (Uthe) Breh- mer. The father was born in Elsas, Germany, in 1833, was general specu- lator, and came to America when quite
York. From there he removed to Michigan where he operated lumber camps for a New York syndicate. He died in Lansing, Michigan, in 1890. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days in Bay City, Michigan, and was educated in the common schools there. At the age of sixteen he entered the Notre Dame University at South Bend, Indiana, and was grad- uated from there at the age of twenty- one, having first attended the industrial school, and later took a finishing course. After completing his education he set- tled in Bay City, Michigan, and was there engaged as contractor and archi- tect for two years when he returned to South Bend, Indiana, and remained until he came to Evansville in May, 1893. In September, 1893, Mr. Breh- mer entered into partnership with Mr. C. C. Shopbell, under the firm name of Brehmer & Shopbell engaged in the architect business, and the partnership continued with gratifying success until the 15th of June, 1897, since when Mr. Brehmer has prosecuted the work alone. He is an active and helpful member of the Knights of Maccabees, Knights of St. John, and Y. M. I. He has fur- nished plans for some important build- ings in Evansville, among them being J. G Lannert & Son's carriage factory, Bernard Reitman's residence, L. C. Bomm's residence. William Seiffert's residence, Joseph Schaefer's business block, Poor Clare Monastery, Edwin Taylor's residence, Robert Davidson's residence, J. H. Borgman's business house and residence, Court Place, P.
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W. Frey's residence, H. Wilkemeyer's residence, Vanderburg county court room improvements and O. S. Week's residence.
He was united in marriage in 1883 to Miss Mary A. Reilly. of South Bend, Indiana, and nine children have blessed their union, as follows: Charles Ed- ward, Mary Gertrude, Olivia,. Louis, Mary, Bernard, Genevieve, Lillian and Margaret. In business Mr. Brehmer is active and sagacious. His enterprises are remarkably successful: not only in business is he active, but also in those enterprises which make men beloved by their fellow-citizens, in those things which work for the general good and in his attitude toward benevolent move- ments of society. Industry, integrity and wise management have been the chief factors in building his prosperity.
DANIEL AIKEN.
T HE history of no county in America contains the record of a more hon- orable and successful career than that of Daniel Aiken, deceased, in his day one of the foremost farmers of Vanderburgh county. One little expects to find start- ling events in the life of a farmer, but he does not understand the forces which contribute to the advancement of the moral, social and political interests of our people if he leaves the careful and conservative farmer out of his calcula- tions. Daniel Aiken was born in what is now Vanderburgh county, in 1813, and was the son of David and Elizabeth (Noble) Aiken.
David Aiken was born in Genesee county, New York, in 1788, and emi- grated to the Indiana Territory in 1 So8. passing down the Allegheny and Ohio rivers on a raft. He located at Rising Sun and there erected the first log-cabin in that vicinity. From there he went to Darlington, then the county seat of Warrick county. He participated in the battle of Tippecanoe and also the battle of New Orleans. He erected the first jails in Boonville, Indiana, and Henderson, Kentucky. The mother, Elizabeth Noble Aiken, was a native of Virginia, and was a woman of the high- est character.
The early life of Daniel Aiken was spent in the wilderness, assisting his father in felling the forest and partici- pating in the monotonous routine of clearing land and raising crops. Edu- cation was little thought of, no books were to be procured and newspapers were rare, indeed. In a wild, primitive country Daniel Aiken grew to manhood, subject to the privations and the hard work that foster self-denial and inde- pendence. He was favored by being the son of ambitious and intelligent parents-ambitious for the success of their children, intelligent in providing the means of educational improvements to the best of their ability.
Late in life Daniel learned the alpha- bet from his father, and he became am- bitious for knowledge. Weekly papers were subscribed for and all available books were procured. Many a night he was found poring over the pages of some old book by the dim light of a log fire, and in that way he obtained suffi-
DANIEL AIKEN.
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cient knowledge for ordinary business transactions. In addition to this he had a head full of good common sense, which was, not only then. but is now more valuable than " book learning." From 1836 to 1848 Daniel Aiken was engaged in flat-boating to New Orleans and by hard work and close economy, succeeded in accumulating considerable means, which in 1839 led to the pur- chase of 320 acres of land which is to-day a part of the present homestead. Among the pioneers of Indiana there were few, if any, better men than Daniel Aiken. He was deservedly popular and widely respected for his qualities of genuine manliness. He was a plain man, prac- tical and unostentatious.
In his social relations he was univers- ally respected and by his more intimate friends who knew him best, he was sincerely loved. When released from the cares of business he cared more for the domestic circle and comforts of home than the demands of society. Prudently careful of his own interests he was economical without being miserly, and yet charitable without be- ing injudiciously or excessively in- dulgent. Remembering his own strug- gles, his hand was ever ready to help the needy who were objects of charity. He was always ready to interest himself in the welfare of the deserving and his practical wisdom enabled him to be advisor and helper of a number of young men, who owe their prospects in life to his judicious counsel and aid. Amid all of the pressing engagements of his active life he never failed in the conscientious, punctual performance of
his religious duties. On December 15, ISS4, Daniel Aiken was called to his reward, and he died as he had lived in the clear hope of immortality through Jesus Christ.
His excellent wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Aiken, who for many years was his efficient help-mate, who shared with him the toils and enjoyed with him the prosperity of a long and useful life. still survives him and resides at the old homestead on the farm, about five miles above Evansville. They were married in 184S. She was the daughter of Conrad Stacer, who was a native of France. He was associate judge of Vanderburgh county for fourteen years and for the greater part of his life was connected with some public office in the service of the people. He was a man of sterling integrity, public spirited and enterprising and took an active part in all interests for the betterment of his fellowmen. Mr. F. Stacer, brother of Mrs. Aiken, was a soldier in the Mexi- can war, having run away from home at the age of eighteen to enter the service. Two other brothers served faithfully in the Union army and were honorably discharged at the close of the rebellion.
Mrs. Aiken's magnificent farm con- sists of 720 acres of as fine river bottom land as will be found in the Ohio Valley. It requires the services of thirty men to attend the farm and they are now under the supervision of Mr. Joseph Angel, who has served as Mrs. Aiken's foreman since the death of her husband. She has large numbers of mules and horses and her farm is run
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on a metropolitan plan. For thirty-five years Mrs. Aiken has been a consistent and helpful member of the Union Christian church, She was instrumental in establishing the church in Vander- burgh county. The church was pre- sided over by Rev. J. T. Philips for over a quarter of a century. He was called to another field some few years ago but is now coming back to his old church Although she has passed many mile stones of life's journey, she is still apparently hale and hearty and takes an active part in the management of her farm. She is a true christian, exempli- fying in her life the ideals of perfect womanliness.
REV. JOSEPH DICKMAN,
PASTOR of St. Mary's church, was born in Oldenburg, Franklin county, Indiana, December 26, 1849. IIis father, Frederick Dickman, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1809, and came to America in 1836, settling in Olden- burg, Indiana, where he was engaged in farming up to the time of his death, September 2, 18SI. He was a man of sterling integrity, and in his death society lost a good citizen and his family a counselor whose worth was beyond estimate. He married Elizabeth ยท Fischer, a native of Germany, born October 20, 1820. The elementary education of Father Joseph Dickman was obtained in Oldenburg, where he went to school and worked on his father's farm alternately. In 1863 he attended St. Meinrad Indiana school
and later attended at Bardstown, Ken- tucky, his classical and theological education being obtained in those in- stitutions. Ile was ordained at St. Meinrad's September 21, 1872, by Right Rev. De St. Palias and for nineteen years succeeding he was pastor at Joseph's Hill, Indiana. February 1, 1892, he came to Evansville, having been appointed pastor of St. Mary's church, in which capacity he has served continually since. He is admirably fitted for the responsible position which he holds. To his knowledge he adds the spirit of retirement, and an excellent judgment he unites with his zeal. In the pulpit he is of great force. He is known as an eloquent and earnest preacher. He is possessed of an ex. cellent education and many charming qualities of mind and heart.
SAMUEL ORR.
T HREE score and two years ago a young man from Ireland, rich in energy, integrity and moral character, became a resident of Indiana, after having spent two years in the eastern part of the United States. He had re- sided in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in a grocery store. In 1835, he was induced by friends to come to Evansville. The man was twenty-five and the town less than twenty years old. For nearly five de. cades thereafter the two were scarcely separated. He and the town grew and prospered together, mutually de-
SAMUEL ORR.
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pendent and mutually helpful. This man was Samuel Orr, of Scotch-Irish descent. Ile was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland. The necessity of gaining for himself a livelihood al- lowed little time or opportunity for ac- quiring higher education. So he left his native land in the strength of young manhood, with scant knowledge of science and the classics, but with broad views of life and its obligations. He had inherited large mental capacity, and a splendid constitution; a tendency to business pursuits and the exercise of benevolence. A careful home train- ing and the necessities of his early en- vironments had fixed in him habits of industry and thrift. He established for others in Evansville a pork packing and wholesale grocery and an iron business which prospered under his manage- ment. But a man of his ability and in- dependence could not be contented to manage the business of other men and in a short time he became a partner and afterwards owner of the business which he had inaugurated. All of his business undertakings prospered and his accumulations were wisely invested. It naturally followed that he grew rich, twenty years afterwards becoming sole proprietor of the business in which he was engaged. His interests were di- vided into two branches, his son, James L. Orr, and Matthew Dalzell, being admitted as partners in the grocery de- partment, wherein they continued until the beginning of the rebellion. After the close of the war James L. Orr (his son), and James Davidson, were taken in as partners in the iron trade and the
firm name changed to Samuel Orr & Co. The business grew and prospered under the guiding hand of Samuel Orr until the operations of the concerns be- come the largest and best known in the west. In all of his plans Samuel Orr considered the future. Temporary ex- pedients found no favor in his sight. Great in his conceptions, broad minded. large hearted, whether in the conduct of personal business or in the manage- ment of a public enterprise; whether in his permanent investments for an in- come or the endowment of an institu- tion for public benefit he considered the decades and the centuries hidden in the womb of futurity.
He stood for the public spirit of the community, and favored whatever would insure to the permanent prosperity and welfare. Mr. Orr was elected a director of the branch at Evansville of the State Bank of Indiana, November 2, 1846. On May 10, 1855, was elected president of the branch bank, and remained in that capacity until the expiration of the franchise and until the final dividend from the assets in December, 1858. Upon the organization of the branch at Evansville of the Bank of the State of Indiana as the successor of the State Bank of Indiana, Mr. Orr was elected a director and served in that capacity until 1865, when by an act of congress national banking was ushered in and the ten per cent tax imposed on the circula- tion of state banks, which forced the Bank of the State of Indiana into liqui- dation Mr. Orr immediately, in con- nection with others, organized the Ev- ansville National Bank, was one of the
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directors and members of the executive heart has ceased to beat, and the committee and took an active part in the management of the bank up to the time of his death in 1882. In 1873 the German National Bank of Evansville was incorporated and Mr. Orr was elected president, in which capacity he served until his death. He was one of the incorporators of the Evansville and Illinois railroad, now known as the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad Company.
The objects of his private bounty were almost infinite and always deserving; he gave with a definite purpose in view and his gifts were helpful. The world can never know of the myriads whom he assisted. His most intimate friends were not informed to the extent and variety of his good deeds. He sought to avoid publicity and the only complete record of his benefactions is in the courts of Heaven. He was a consistent member of the Walnut Street Presby- terian church, of which for a quarter of a century he was an elder. The church was deeply in debt, and it was largely through the aid of Mr. Orr that the debt was cancelled. He was for many years trustee of Wabash College, of which he left a bequest in aid of its library. Dr. Tuttle, the venerable president of the college, officiated at Mr. Orr's funeral on the 10th of Feb- rmary, 1882.
A few sentences from his sermon are in place here: "He was a husband. And one who has leaned on him these many years finds her strong staff broken. He was a father. These children suddenly find the fatherly
fatherly hand closed. Ile was a friend. Hundreds outside his home called him their friend. They loved him. His presence was as sunlight to them. How much it meant when they said: 'Ile is our friend.' He was a philanthropist. Such were his varied relations to the suffering that he might have said: 'When the ear heard me then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me it gave witness to me, because I delivered the poor and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.' The honored and beloved wife of Mr. Orr, who had been a loved and loving companion for a half century, followed him to the tomb in a few months. She was reared with sterling purposes under the drip- pings of the Old Scotch Presbyterian Sanctuary. Her active interest in all good work as well as her example were a great benefit to humanity. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Orr, two, a daughter and a son survive- Mrs. Bayard, wife of a prominent citizen of Evansville, whose biography appears in this volume, and Mr. James L. Orr, who succeeded to his father's business. To commemorate the life and work of Samuel Orr and his good wife, their children erected a beautiful parsonage adjoining the Walnut street Presby- terian church, where their parents wor- shipped and labored for so many years.
Mr. Samuel Orr at his death left to his family ample means to secure to each of them the comforts of life. They also inherited from him a legacy of higher value, an example of a whole life of honorable and indefatigable industry,
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with no spot or smirch resting upon his manliness. When he arrived in Evans- character. Such a character built up, as it was, by strict fidelity to every trust, is more precious than riches, or station, or rank, or the fulfillment of every desire which ambition incites in the minds of her votarics.
CHARLES RUSSEL BEMENT,
ECEASED, in his day one of the fore- most business men of Indiana, was born at Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 4, 1829, and re- ceived his early mental training in the schools of Stockbridge. With a some- what limited education he found himself when he had grown to manhood con- fronted with the problem of life. Bright, energetic and determined he bravely faced the difficulties of his position and decided to carve out a career for him- self. He was descended from fine old Scotch-English ancestry and had a grand, good mother who reared a family of children everywhere noted for their honor, culture and true citizenship. In strength of character, resolute and in- flexible devotion to principal, her devo- tion to family, church and her section was evidenced by tireless ministrations to the afflicted. Under the influence of such a mother he acquired naturally honor, charity and love of liberty and a spirit of independence.
Russel Bement came west about the age of twenty-five and reached Evans- ville a poor boy as far as this world's goods go, but rich in energy and true 15
ville he had the princely sum of a quarter of a dollar and at his death his estate was worth near a quarter of a million dollars. Hle attributed his suc- cess to the fact that he attended to his affairs himself, and never asked others to do for him what he could do himself. His first engagement was in the capacity of clerk in the grocery store of his brother, Asa Bement. He soon de- veloped superior business ability and tact, possessing many qualities without which few men rise to distinction. So when his brother married and went to Connecticut Russel Bement assumed full charge of the business. He met with success and had the courage to manage a wholesale business during the civil war and maintained a splendid trade with southern merchants, although Mr. Bement's affiliations were with the Union. Ile finally became the head of the concern which he had served as a clerk, and under his guiding hand the business grew and prospered until its operations became second to none of the kind in Indiana. He was for twenty years president of the Merchant's National bank and gained wide reputa- tion as a financier by familiarity with the principles of banking. The bank thrived and prospered under his direc- tion until it went into voluntary liquida- tion. He was a man of means and affairs and had extensive real estate in- terests in and around Evansville.
While a reticent man, he was not taciturn, and people who were thrown with him through business relations or by personal contact, bear testimony of
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his genial manner and warm hearted friendship and generous hospitality.
He never sought prominence as a politician, but he was well informed in all matters pertaining to local, state or national government, and could have wielded a strong influence, but he sim- ply voted the republican ticket and was satisfied with having done his duty.
His counsel was sought and his judg- ment relied upon by his fellow-citizens. He was one of nature's noblemen, and had a strong hold upon the affections of the people. Suave and courteous in manner, warm hearted and kind to his friends, but in business dignified and firm, and his decisions were strong and always just. As a citizen he shirked no duty or responsibility, and while rarely concerned in the conduct of pub- lie affairs, he took a live interest in all that affected the common welfare. He was a friend alike of his people and his country, equally attached to the rights of one and the glory of the other.
As a man, he was of strong will, industrious, honest. brave, magnanimous and true, faithful and confiding with his friends, unswerving in his attachments, fixed in his principles, a pleasing com- panion, and devoted and affectionate to those bound to him by natural ties. Simple in tastes, frugal in habits, dig- nified and decorous in manners, gracious in address and at all times and in all companies by his bearing and appear- ance showing that "His tribe was God Almighty's gentlemen."
it was strongly fettered with honor and fidelity on the one hand and modesty. purity and benevolence on the other. Chaste and delicate in his tastes, he could not brook that which savored of coarseness and unrefinement. He was the proudest of men and yet the hum- blest, and so rare was the blending, so admirable the balancing that he was the esteemed friend of the prosperous, and the ready counselor and help of the poor. He gave alms lavishly, although he guarded his charitable work as a secret, and the only true record of his deeds of kindness is in the court of Heaven.
Russell Bement married Mary Char- lotte Ruby, of Ohio. Mr. Bement left his family a large fortune, and also something more precious than riches- a fair name. His death was an irrepar- able loss to the community and to his friends.
WILLIAM HEILMAN.
T "HE faithful and impartial historian of Indiana, who prepares a roster of her greatest men, will not fail to accord the proper place to Hon. William Heil- man, senator, congressman and business man, who was born at Albig in Rhenish Hesse, October 11th, 1824, and was the son of Valentine Heilman, who died when William was eighteen months of age. His mother was united in mar- riage (second) to Mr. Peter Weintz, a native of Germany, and the family came to America in 1843, landing at New
In his family circle Mr. Bement was kind, affectionate and unselfish to a fault. Wherever his name was known Orleans. From there they removed to
WM. HEILMAN.
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St. louis and shortly afterwards took up their abode in Posey county, Indiana. The conditions of William Heilman's childhood were not more favorable than those common to the frontier boys of the epoch. Ile had almost no advan- tages in school during childhood and his early life was spent in the monot- onous routine of farm life. In 1847 in connection with Christian Kratz, his brother-in-law, an experienced hand in the foundry business, he started a small foundry and machine shop in Evansville, occupying a rude frame building on Pine street. They manufactured dog irons, stoves, plows, etc., and employed a half dozen men. In 1850 they added a blacksmith shop and supplemented their horse power with a steam engine and boiler, and in 1854 manufactured the first "portable steam engine," and five years later made their first thresh- ing machine, patterned after the "Pitts machine." Their business progressed marvelously. During the war Mr. Heilman took an active interest in the cause of the Union, but notwithstanding that, southern merchants, who had always liberally patronized him, con- tinued to do so without intermission. In 1864 Mr. Kratz withdrew from the business and received $100,000 for his interest.
cratic majority of 2,500, but he reduced it to 112. In 1874, a year fraught with disastrous defeat for the republican party, he again had the satisfaction of reducing the majority, and in 1876 was elected State Senator. Some time afterwards he visited Europe but was not permitted to remain in private life, as the qualities of leadership which he possessed were demanded by his party, and in 1878 he was called home to serve the people as congressman from the first Indiana district, being elected by nearly one thousand votes, and he was the first republican who had ever carried the district. No representative from Indiana ever established a better reputation as a public officer or secured a more universal or hearty esteem from his associates than did Mr. Heilman. In evidence of this fact a portion of the speech delivered by him in the House in 1879 on the "Warner Coinage Bill" is quoted below. He insisted that "honesty is the best policy" in Govern- mental matters as well as in anything else, and thus expressed himself:
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