USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Biographical cyclopedia of Vanderburgh County, Indiana : embracing biographies of many of the prominent men and families of the county > Part 3
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CAPTAIN J. W. WARTMANN
W As born is Lewisburg, Green Brier county, Virginia, February 7, 1832, and is the son of Frederick and Eliza- beth (Bowlin) Wartmann, natives of Virginia.
Captain J. W. Wartmann spent his boyhood days in Cincinnati, where he attended the famous "Woodward Col- lege," from which he graduated in 1847. He was engaged in business at Cincin- nati for several years after his gradua- tion, and then removed to Spencer county, Indiana, and began the study of law, under the preceptorship of Hon. L. Q. DeBruler. He practiced first at Rockport. In 1864 he was appointed provost marshal of the first district of Indiana, with headquarters at Evans- ville, which he resigned, being appoint- ed commissioner of the board of enroll- ment for the first district. During his service the drafts of 1864 and 1865 occurred, and important and delicate duties devolved upon Captain Wart- mann, which he performed to the gen- eral satisfaction. After the war was over he returned to Rockport and re- sumed the practice of his chosen pro- fession in partnership with Hon. Thos. F. DeBruler. He was appointed deputy clerk of the United States Court at Evansville, in July, 1871, and at once entered upon the discharge of his duties, and in September, 1871, he was appoint- ed United States Commissioner, and discharged the duties of that position with dignity and credit. Mr. Wart- mann served several years as president of the school board of Rockport, and
3
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has always taken an active interest in and cook on steamboats which plied the the common school system. He is a Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He served member of Eagle lodge, K. of H., K. Uncle Sam as postoffice clerk at Evans- & L. of H., and a member of the Methodist church. ville and Terre Haute, and also received a good business training, clerking for Mr. Wartmann affiliates with the re- publican party and takes an active interest in the welfare thereof. He has excellent practical judgment of men, business and problems, and he has therefore, always had the confidence of the best business men wherever he is known. In all transactions involving money, character and integrity, his rep- utation is unquestionable and without reproach. his brother, Chas. Leich. He learned house and sign painting about 1860; taught a night school of young mechan- ics and laborers, and it is remembered that those same boys took up the cause of their country and entered the civil war when the call was given. Captain Leich enlisted in company F 24th Indiana Infantry, was appointed fifer of his company and subsequently made principal musician of his regiment. After He was united in marriage in January, 1857, to Miss Mary Graham, of Rock- port, and they were blessed with five children. Mrs. Wartmann died March 31, 1897. the war he was employed by Leich & Carlstedt. Later he went to Cincinnati, where he was appointed bookkeeper in the county auditor's office, under Gen- eral August Willich, and later was em- ployed as bookkeeper in a wholesale liquor house, gaining wide and varied experience in mercantile affairs. He returned to Evansville in 1872, and was employed by Leich & Lemcke for a number of years. He was elected CAPT. AUGUST LEICH, county treasurer in 1886 and re-elected in ISSS, and during that period the new court house was built. Mr. Leich han- dled all the funds and bonds necessary for the construction. He was made assistant cashier in the Bank of Com- merce, January 1, 1892, and two years later was appointed cashier of that insti- tution. He was chosen state senator from Vanderburgh county by a large majority in the fall of 1896.
PRESENT State Senator from Vander- burgh county, was born in Prussia, in 1842, and came to America with his parents when but six years of age. After receiving such mental training as the common schools afforded, he was thrown on the world to fight life's battles alone. In his boyhood days he achieved an enviable reputation among the news boys of that day, being particularly enterprising and able to sell more news- papers than others. He was cabin-boy
Mr. Leich was married to Miss Matilda Klenk, and two children have blessed their union. He was elected
AUGUST LEICH.
:
CHAS. H. BUTTERFIELD.
.
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commander of Farragut Post G. A. Regiment, expecting R. in December, 1895. He is always was detained by circ ready to lend a helping hand in the cause of charity, benevolence and Chris- tianity. His friends are not confined to the orders or the party to which he belongs. IIe is one of the most univer- sally popular citizens of Evansville.
CHARLES H. BUTTERFIELD,
HOSE distinguished services in war and in peace make a notable figure in the history of the county, was a native of Maine, born in Farmington, May 17, 1833. He remained at home until he was seventeen, assisting his father and attending the winter schools. He then entered the Farmington Academy, and in 1855 completed a pre- paratory course for college. In the fall of that year he entered Bowdoin college, and was graduated in 1859. His favorite studies were Latin and natural sciences, in which he particularly ex- celled. In August of the same year, he came to Evansville and became the principal of the high school, in which capacity he acted three years with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the patrons of the school, when the dire necessities of the National government, assailed by rebellion, called upon him irresistibly to drop all civil pursuits and go to the front. In the spring of 1862 he assisted to recruit the Sixty-Fifth
beyond his control. He ther i. Ninety. :: 1. 1 r, later First, and was appoit His promoted to lieuter command saw activ important service. The first . : way doy was the chasing of the gi! n the vicin- ity of Henderson, and they were then engaged in the expedition after Morgan in the spring of 1863. In the fall and winter of 1863-4 the regiment was a participant in all the battles of the East Tennessee campaign, and in the spring of 1864, it formed a part of the Twenty- Third Army Corps under the general command of General Sherman, and made the march from Chattanooga to Atlanta. This famous campaign ended the regiment returned to Nashville to fight under Thomas, and destroy the hopes of the Confederacy in the crush- ing defeat of Hood. Then the Ninety- First was transferred to Washington, and took boat for Fort Fisher, North Carolina, landing in time to join Sher- man at Goldsboro, and in the final battles and skirmishes that followed, the regiment gallantly did its duty. Colonel Butterfield was in command at Salis- bury the first day after the entry of the Union army. In July, 1865, he re- turned to Evansville and resumed the study of law. He was soon appointed superintendent of schools and he held this position one year, meanwhile im- proving whatever opportunity offered to keep up his study of law in the office of Hon. Conrad Baker. He was ad- mitted to the bar in December, 1865, and soon after engaged in the practice
it, but
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of his chosen profession. In 1869 he was elected judge of the criminal court, but resigned that position in IS71 to accept the mayoralty, to which he was elected at the death of IIon. William Baker. He served for nearly three years as mayor, and subsequently en- gaged in the practice of law. He was appointed county attorney by the com- missioners, and held that position five years. In April, 1893, he was appointed judge of the police court, which he held with dignity and to the perfect satisfac- tion of his constituents up to the time of his death, in January, 1897. As a summary of his character we give be- low the testimonials of the bar of Evans- ville, which is as follows :
"The members of the bar of Evans- ville desire to express their apprecia- tion of the life and high character and of the valuable public service of their deceased brother, Charles II. Butterfield; and they wish to put upon the records of this court their sense of the loss the legal profession and this community, have sustained by his death.
"In his long and useful life Judge Butterfield was an accomplished teacher, a fearless soldier, followed, admired and trusted by the men he led in the struggle for the salvation of the Union; a lawyer who took front rank in his profession; an incorruptible mayor of the city and its citizens; an able and upright judge. At an carly age he won the entire confidence of this community, and held it throughout all his subsequent life. He has been faithful in every trust."
DR. JOHN BLANCHARD WEEVER,
A LEADING physician of Evansville, was born at Hollowell, Maine, Sep- tember 25, IS36. He was made presi- dent of the Vanderburgh Medical Society the first year he was in Evans- ville, and read a paper the same year, " Pneumonia." He is a member of the St. Mary's hospital staff and a lecturer on " Obstetrics."
Dr. Charles S. Weever (father ) was a native of Maine, and came to Evans- ville in 1837. He married Miss Mary F. Trafton, and their union was blessed with seven children, the subject of this sketch being the second. Charles S. Weever graduated in medicine at the Jefferson Medical College in 184.1, and his son, John B. Weever, took his de- gree from the same school in IS5S, and the grandson of Charles S. Weever, George Slocum Weever, received a diploma from the 'same college in 1897.
John B. Weever spent his boyhood days in Evansville and his early mental training was received in the schools of this city, and when fourteen years of age his father exchanged places with Prof. Wm. II. Byford, of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, afterwards of Chicago. Dr. WVeever received an academic educa- tion in the Mt. Vernon Academy, and was graduated from there at the age of eighteen. He then commenced the study of medicine with his father, and later, as before stated, was graduated from the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, after which he began prac- ticing with his father in Mt. Vernon,
DR. J. B. WEEVER.
CAPT. LEE HOWELL.
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Ilis father died three years later and he continued his practice alone for twenty- eight years. In 1886 he came to Evans- ville, where he has continually practiced his profession since.
Dr. Weever was united in marriage December 23, 1862, to Miss Emma Slocumb, of Carmi, Illinois, and to them have been born seven children, of whom only three survive, as follows : Walter R., George S. and Paul S.
CAPT. LEE HOWELL,
G ENERAL freight agent of the Louis- ville and Nashville railroad, was born in the forties, and is the son of Philip Howell, who, at an early day, located in Lauderdale county, Ala. He was engaged in farming, and married Miss Mary Wesson, a native of Lauder- dale county, and their union was blessed with eight children, the subject of this sketch being the youngest son. Capt. Howell was born near Florence, Ala., and belongs to that large class of men of worth and distinction, who was born to the soil. He worked on his father's farm and went to school alternately, and at the age of fifteen became engaged in a large country store as clerk and book- keeper, clerking in the day time and working on the books at night. Here he remained until the war dogs began to bay, when he picked up his musket
in IS62, and entered the cavalry of the confederate army, which he served faithfully until the end of the civil war. After the war he embarked in steam- boating on the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, where he served as clerk, and later was promoted to the position of master, having had charge of various steaniboats which plied the Tennessee river. While thus occupied he became largely acquainted with the trade and the people, and his worth as a manager of business interests grew rapidly. In 1872 he entered the service of the Louis- ville and Nashville railroad company as contracting agent. which position he creditably filled until ISSo, when he was promoted to the general agency for the company at Evansville. June, ISS2, he was appointed division freight agent of the Henderson division, and in the fall of ISS2, was appointed to his present position. He was one of the originators of the Evansville. Newburgh and Sub- urban railroad, and is largely interested in three or four steamboat companies. being president of the Evansville, Ohio and Green River Transportation com- pany which owns and runs two packets -the Evansville and Gayoso, besides several towboats and tugs in Green river. Capt. Howell is an enterprising public spirited citizen, and is a devot- ed member of the Trinity Methodist church.
He was united in marriage in 1867 to Miss Ottaway, of Tuscumbia, Ala., and four children have issued from their union, two of whom survive, Lee, Jr., born in May, 1872, and Emma, born in August, 1879.
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JAMES R. GOODWIN,
PROMINENT business man of Evans- ville, manager of the Goodwin Clothing Company, was born in Missis- sippi county, Missouri, June 18, 1853. Willian M. Goodwin (father) was a native of Daviess county, Indiana, and was engaged in business in Mississippi county, Missouri, and in Hardin county. Illinois. He married Miss Maryetta Wilbur, of Leavenworth, Indiana. They moved in 1859 to Crawford connty, Indiana, where James attended school until he was fourteen years of age.
They moved to Hardin county, Illinois. and he was sent to Louisville. Kentucky, to complete his education. He graduat- ed from the high school there in 1873. Returning to Hardin county, Illinois. he gained a wide and varied business experience by acting as clerk and book- keeper in a general store for four years. At the expiration of that time he moved to Evansville and for one year conduct- ed a branch shoe store for J. S. Morse.
Subsequently he was employed with Miller Bros. Dry Goods Company, and then formed an insurance partnership with Mr. S. W. Cook, which continued successfully until ISSS, when he sold out and embarked in the clothing busi- ness, and formed the nucleus of the present prosperous business known as the Goodwin Clothing Company. The business was started under the firm name of Pleasants, Goodwin & Co., in a small place on Vine street, the firm being changed to J. R. Goodwin & Co. in 1889, when Mr. Pleasants retired and Mr. S. W. Cook took his place.
J. R. Goodwin is an exceptionally enterprising gentleman of Evansville and a most representative politician. his affiliations being with the deino- cratic party. He has served the city as councilman one term. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, Eiks and Royal Arcanum. He was a delegate to the democratic national convention that nominated William J. Bryan for president of the United States.
Few men have done more for the public good without hope of reward or fear of criticism : and if one were to ask one hundred citizens to write the names of ten of the most worthy and popular citizens of Evansville, the name of J. R. Goodwin would be one of the top, if not the first, in every such list. His career is characterized by great energy, prudence and liberality, controlled by superior judgment, and marked through- out by unquestioned integrity.
W. A. HESTER,
SUPERINTENDENT of the public schools of Evansville, was born in Indian- apolis March 17, 1858. Mr. Hester's ancestry is of sturdy pioneer stock. his grandfather, his father and several of his relatives having been members of the Methodist ministry. and being of that noble and self-sacrificing race of itinerant preachers, who, carrying the seeds of religion into what was then a wilderness, were the advance guards of our modern education and civilization.
Rev. F. A. Hester, (father), was born
J. R. GOODWIN.
W. A HESTER.
-
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in 1822, and married Miss R. O. Slack. been plainly demonstrated in his success- a native of New Jersey. but residing in Gibson county when married.
W. A. Hester adopted the profession of teaching, and was engaged in the schools of Southeastern Indiana for four years, two years preceding and two years succeeding his graduation from the DePauw University in 1881. In 1882 he became principal of the high school of Owensboro, remaining there until 1890, when he became connected with the schools of Evansville. He was made principal of Campbell street school in that year, and in 1894 was unani- mously chosen by the school trustees as superintendent of the public schools. Mr. Hester is thoroughly devoted to the cause of education. The same energy and ability applied to another profession or to mercantile pursuits would un- doubtedly bring greater pecuniary re- sults, but he cares not so much for the monetary compensation he receives as for the good he may accomplish in the education and enlightenment of the peo- ple of his adopted state.
ful direction of the school system. This combined with great earnestness of pur- pose, and a conscientious regard in carrying out whatever may be for the best interests of the schools, distin- guishes him as a man eminently fitted for the important position which he occupies at the head of the school sys- tem of the city."
He is a member of the Methodist church, a Knight of Pythias, and as such he is an active and helpful worker.
Prof. Hester was married August 18, ISS5, to Miss S. H. Ogden, daughter of Mr. L. Ogden. of Owensboro, Ken- tucky. She was born September, IS, IS79. They have two children, a daughter and son, Wilma Ogden, ten years of age, and Kenneth Owen, two and a half years.
PROFESSOR MILTON Z. TINKER,
Prof. Hester has filled the office of VER whose head has passed three score and three summers, is still an active, energetic, hale and hearty man. and one who bears up well under the weight of years. Born in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, June 25, 1834, he belongs to that large class of men of sterling worth, who was born to the soil, and his youth was spent in the ordinary monotony of farm life, where he worked in the summer and attended the common schools in winter. He school superintendent with ability for three years, raising the standard of the qualification of teachers materially and helping them to attain to that high standard, so necessary to the best school room work. He has been quite suc- cessful in all his professional work, as a man must be who loves his vocation. Commenting on his services in the capacity of superintendent, the Eve- ning Tribune of August 6. 1896, said: "The superintendent is a man of early manifested a decided taste for marked administrative ability, as has music and spent much time in that
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department of the schools devoted to singing and voice culture. He attended regularly the old fashioned singing schools, as well as the musical institu- tions and conventions, and gained much useful knowledge and practical training. When but twenty years of age he taught his first school, the compensa- tion being $12.00 per month, which included board, the latter to be obtained only by "boarding 'round" the district, which did by no means guarantee the entire satisfaction of it. But he was young and ambitious and could afford to endure some privations in order to accomplish his purpose. For four years he taught school and at night gave singing lessons in the community where he boarded.
Mr. Tinker went to Chicago, May 1, 1858, and entered the Normal Musical Institute of Messrs. Bradbury & Cady, and there took a five months' course upon practical teaching, which included the subject of harmony and voice train- ing. Leaving there he engaged him- self conducting singing classes, musical institutions and conventions, and wher- ever he went met with very gratifying success. He introduced and superin- tended the instruction of vocal music in the public schools of Terre Haute, Ind., having been employed for that purpose in the fall of 1863, by the board of edu- cation in that city. Four years later he resigned to accept a similar position in the city of Evansville, and, therefore, for thirty years, he has been at the head of the musical department of the schools of Evansville, and there can be pro- duced no better evidence of general
satisfaction than his continuity in that capacity. Since 1870, Professor Tinker has also been leader of Walnut Street Presbyterian church choir. During his career in Evansville he has been a leader of the Philharmonic Society, Lyric Society, and Ideai Opera Club, being at all times identified with every movement to advance the musical inter- ests of the people of Evansville.
Professor Tinker was united in mar- riage in October, 1859, in Sandoval, Ill., to Miss Jennie F. A. Hurd, daugh- ter of Mr. Everett Hurd, a native of Vermont, and four children have blessed their union, one of whom survives, Elbert Moreau Tinker, aged twenty- nine years.
The good accomplished by Professor Tinker in the various capacities of musical director cannot be overesti- mated. His has been, and is, a most useful life. Old as he is, with a long and busy life behind him, there is no spot, nor smirch, nor stain upon his name. Shame has not known him, nor disgrace abided in his house. It might of him in truth be said:
"Sweet are the thoughts that savor of content, The quiet mind is richer than a crown ;
Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent, The poor estate scorns Fortune's angry frown.
Such sweet content, such mind, such sleep, such bliss, Beggars enjoy when princes often miss.
The homely house that harbors quiet rest,
The cottage that affords no pride nor care, The man that "grees wi" country music best,
The sweet concert of Mirth, and Music's fare.
Obscured life sets down a type of bliss ;
A mind content both crownand kingdom is."
----
$
PROF. M. Z. TINKER.
.
.
--
PROF. ROBERT SPEAR.
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RANE CLAY WILKINSON,
W ELL-KNOWN lawyer of Evansville, was born in Gibson county, In- diana, and his boyhood days were spent alternately on the farm and attending the cominon schools of Gibson county. He was the son of Aaron B. and Lu- cinda Wilkinson. The subject of this sketch enlisted, in 1862, in the Eight- ieth Indiana Infantry, and during three years active service was wounded four times. He was first wounded at the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, but soon recovered. In the charge on the fortification at the battle of Resaca, Georgia, in 1864, he was shot three times in a space of a few minutes, and was desperately wounded. He was left upon the field of battle for dead, but his magnificent constitution pulled him through. To this day he carries in his right shoulder, as a memento of that terrible charge, a bullet which was never extracted. Mr. Wilkinson served under General Schofield, ex-commander of the United States army. Returning to Evansville he attended a select school for two years, and then was with the Journal Company for five years. Afterwards he read law with Mattison & Gilchrist and formed a partnership with Major Mattison in 1876, which continued untIl 1883, since which time he has practiced his profession alone. During the late Governor Hovey's ad- ministration he was commissioned col- onel and chief of staff, and went with that high executive on his trip through Mexico. Colonel Wilkinson is one of our best citizens, respected and es- teemed by a large acquaintance. +
ROBERT SPEAR,
PRINCIPAL of the Evansville high school, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 25, 1851, and is the fourth son of David Spear. who was descended from Irish ancestors of whom the emigrants settled in America in 1796. In the latter part of 1851, the family, then comprising ten children, moved to Indiana and settled in the wilds of Owen county, where the wolves were more numerous than domestic animals, the bridle paths through the forests serving the purpose of highways; where no books were to be procured and newspapers were very rare. It was there the father of Mr. Spear lost his health from exposure, and the hard and ardous work of felling the forest trees and died in 1869. The mother was left with six children at home, three of whom were girls, the oldest being twenty-two years of age. In this wilderness with such surround- ings Robert Spear grew to manhood, subject to the privations and the hard work that foster the self-denial and in- dependence. Up to his seventeenth year Mr. Spear had labored hard for the mere acquisition of the simple necessities of life and they were oft- times extremely meagre. In winter he could have attended the log cabin and frame building schools of the day had he been provided with the necessary clothing, which he was unable to pur- chase. Being ambitious and believing he could accomplished more away from home he set out to find employment which he secured in an adjoining county, where for four years he served as a farm
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hand. In this capacity the satisfaction of his employer was evidenced by an increase in wages each year. He en- joyed the good fortune of being the son of ambitious parents, ambitious for the advancement and success of their chil- dren, and he longed for learning. He secured a spelling book to which he applied himself diligently when not at work; weekly papers were subscribed for and all available books were pro- cured. From this and the stimulus afforded by the association of his em- ployer, a man of considerable learning, a liberal education was obtained while he worked. Later, having accumulated small means he attended the common schools and in 1873 began to teach the three months' winter common schools. He pursued his studies in the summer, and in 1874 attended the Bedford, (Indiana), Male and Female College. He entered the Northern Indiana Normal school in 1875, and at the same time studying medicine under the pre- ceptorship of Dr. Hankinson. of Val- paraiso, Indiana. In ISSI Mr. Spear came to Evansville and was appointed teacher of natural science in the Evans- ville high school. His progressive ideas and thorough knowledge of teach- ing placed him in prominence and in 1885 he was appointed principal of that institution, which he has filled continu- ally every since. Much of the material growth of the institution, together with the wonderful advancement that has been made in the educational and industrial work of the school are due in a large measure to the indefatigable labor and wise management of its able principal.
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