USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Biographical cyclopedia of Vanderburgh County, Indiana : embracing biographies of many of the prominent men and families of the county > Part 4
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Mr. Spear has also for many years been a student of electricity, and when the class of the National School of Electricity was organized in Evansville in 1895, Mr. Spear was selected to de- liver a series of forty-five lectures on economic electricity.
Robert Spear is a gentleman of fine personal appearance, a man of large brain, and is one of the men that con- nect the home-spun clothing and illiter- ate age with the cultured and learned collegiate system of the present day.
Mr. Spear was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Evans February 25, ISS2, that being the anniversary of both his and his wife's birthday, he being just one year her senior. Their union has been blessed with five children: Herbert, Lewis, Walter, Rene and Mary.
PHILIP W. FREY,
A TTORNEY-AT-LAW, prominent mem- ber of the Evansville bar, was born in Evansville July 9, 1857, and was educated in the public schools, pass- ing through all the grades, and in 1874 graduated from the high school. His father, Louis Frey, was born in Austria, and married Miss Rosalie Roser, a native of France, and they came to America in 1847, locating in Vander- burgh county in 1856.
Mr. Frey studied law under the pre- ceptorship of Judge Azro Dyer, and in 1877 was admitted to the bar of Vander- burgh county and at once began the practice of his profession. His affili- ations are with the democrats and he
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PHILIP W. FREY.
DR. W. S. POLLARD.
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has always taken an active interest in his party. He was nominated in 1882 for the office of prosecuting attorney for the first judicial district, composed of Posey and Vanderburgh counties, and was elected. In 18S4 he was again nominated and elected to the same office. At the expiration of his official career he again turned his entire atten- tion to the practice of his profession. He was united in marriage December 22, ISS6, to Miss Hattie Loewenthal, of Leavenworth, Kansas.
WILLIAM S. POLLARD, M. D.,
A LEADING physician and surgeon of Evansville, was born in Carmi, Illinois, November 1, 1838, spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, received an academical education and studied medicine in his father's office.
William Pollard, (father), was a native of Virginia, and was graduated from a medical university of that state. He was prominent in his profession and was very successful. He was a man of means and affairs and owned a large number of slaves, which, on ac- count of his hatred of slavery, he liberated and removed to Kentucky, and from there to Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Later he removed to Cynthiana, Indiana, and died there in 1874. In his practice he exhibited the highest degree of skill and professional attainments. Always upright and honorable, kind and humane, he was much respected and beloved. He married Miss Wilcox, of Carmi. Ill., and their union was blessed with seven
children, of which the subject of this sketch was the fourth.
In 1861 William S. Pollard joined the Federal army as a member of an Illinois infantry regiment, with which he re- mained however, but a short time. He returned to Indiana and was largely in- strumental in the organization of the Twenty-Fourth Indiana Infantry, which was commanded by Colonel Hovey. When the regiment was mustered in Dr. Pollard was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to Company K. He gradually rose to the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, which position was attained by his ability as an officer and his honorable record as a soldier. He saw active service in the battles of Vicksburg, Shiloh, Champion Hills, the siege of Corinth, the battles of Blakely and Mobile, Alabama, and others of less importance. His regiment was mustered out at Indianapolis. Indiana, and Mr. Pollard received an honorable discharge. He was for some time engaged in merchandising, but soon returned to his first love, the medical profession, and in 1869 entered the Miami Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated in IS71. He came at once to Evansville and be- gan the practice of medicine in partner- ship with Dr. James P. DeBruler, with whom he remained until the death of the latter in IS75. He served the county as county physician for three years and was for ten years examining surgeon for the United States Pension Bureau. He is a member of the Vanderburgh Med- ical Society.
Dr. Pollard is a prominent member of the G. A. R., and in the order of
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Masons has filled many important chairs, having at present reached past cminent commander of the Knights Templar
Dr. Pollard was united in marriage in February, 1874, to Miss Mattie A. Sutton, daughter of Gideon Sutton, of Centerburg, Ohio, and their union has been blessed by one child. During Dr. Pollard's residence in Evansville of over a quarter of a century he has thoroughly established himself in public favor as a physician and citizen. Progressive and active, he has kept abreast of the times . and has always favored efforts intended to advance the general prosperity of the city.
PROFESSOR WILLIAM McK. BLAKE,
INSTRUCTOR in Latin and civics in the Evansville high school, was born in Delaware county, Indiana, August 21, 1849. and is the son of William Blake a prominent Methodist minister, and a native of Virginia, who came to Indiana and located in Delaware county in 1844. He married Miss Mary Lockhart. a native of Ohio, and four children blessed their union, the subject of this sketch being the first. The father died in ISSo in Green Castle, Indiana, and the mother is still living and resides with her son-in-law, Dr. G. M. Young, in Evansville.
William McK. Blake received his elementary education at home under the preceptorship of his father, and in 1867 entered the preparatory department of Asbury University, now known as De- Pauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, and two years subsequent entered the
college and was graduated in 1873. For three years following Professor Blake was principal of the high school at Rockport, Indiana, and from 1876 to 1879 served as superintendent of schools at New Castle, Indiana. He came to Evansville in the fall of 1879 and taught Latin for two years in the high school. Then for a term of four years was prin- cipal of that institution and since ISS3 has been engaged as teacher of Latin and civics.
Professor Blake was united in mar- riage in 1876 to Miss Kate Evans. daughter of Joseph S. Evans, a prom- inent business man of Rockport, Indiana, and one child, a boy of eight years of age, has issued from their union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blake are consistent members of the Methodist church. . The professor is a musician of considerable note and takes a great interest in vocal music, and the good he has accomplished in that way cannot be readily estimated.
Professor Blake has applied himself assiduously to his work and by economy and good management has succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competence. In his new and beautiful home at the corner of Blackford and Kentucky ave- nues, he and his family are surrounded by every comfort and many of the luxuries of life. He is a man of great energy and force of character. possess- ing many of those qualities, without which. few men rise to distinction. Determined and persistent purposes. practical sense and integrity, are the traits which mark the outlines of Pro- fessor Blake's chief characteristics.
DR. JOHN E. OWEN.
JUDGE JORDAN G. WINFREY.
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
JOHN E. OWEN, M. D.,
A PROMINENT physician of Evansville, was born in Madisonville, Ken- tucky, October 1, 1854, and began the practice of medicine in Evansville in 18So. He is the son of Abraham B. Owen, M. D., a Virginian by birth, and in his day one of the most promi- nent and successful physicians in Ken- tucky. Of six children the subject of this sketch was the fifth. He attended the common schools of Evansville and the Kentucky University at Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1875 began the study of medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. A. M. Owen. Later he attended the Evansville Medical College from which he graduated in 1879. In ISSo he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York City, from which he graduated. He was a member of the faculty of the Evansville Medical College, of which he was demonstrator of Anatomy. He resigned this position, however, to enter the Hospital Medical College, of Evansville, in which he filled the chair of Professor of Anatomy up to the time that institution was closed. Dr. Owen has served the county as county physician, and is a member of the following medical associ- tions : Vanderburgh County Medical Association, American Medical Associ- ation and State Medical Association. Dr. Owen's private practice and the many calls upon him by his professional associates, in many of the surrounding counties sufficiently attest the high esti- mation in which he is held by the people and medical fraternity. Of very quiet
and retiring disposition with no attempt at personal display, his work, not yet finished, has been accomplished quietly and without the use of the ordinary and even legitimate means of advertising, which are so frequently resorted to by ambitious men in the profession. Dr. Owen was united in marriage August 30, 1892, to Miss Maria Louise Linck, daughter of Charles Linek, and to them has been born one child, Mary Linck Owen.
JORDON G. WINFREY,
TUDGE of the police court of Evansville and a prominent member of the Vanderburgh county bar, first saw the light of day in Burksville, Cumberland county, Kentucky, February 24, 1855. His early mental training was received from Columbia and Lexington, Kentucky Colleges. He afterwards entered the law department of the Louisville Uni- versity from where he graduated at the age of twenty. Then he entered the law office of General James Speed, who was attorney general under Abraham Lincoln. He was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in 1875, and for two years was associated with his father, also an attorney, at Colum- bia, Ky .; and while at Columbia he taught school for two years. beginning before he was eighteen years of age. From Columbia Mr. Winfrey went to Owensboro, where he established him- self in the practice of his profession and remained one year, doing a lucrative and satisfactory business. In 1878 he
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removed to Evansville, where he has earnestly and continually followed his profession, to which he is very much devoted. His affiliations have been with the democratic party. in the welfare of which he has taken an active interest. He was appointed judge of the police court of Evansville by Mayor Akin, April 13th, 1897.
Major Winfrey was prosecuting attor- ney under Judge Brownlee, and served on the staff of Governor Claude Mat- thews. As a lawyer, he enjoyed an extensive practice, embracing many important cases in the district, state and federal courts. As a judge, Major Winfrey possesses all the qualities nec- essary to constitute an upright minister of justice.
He was united in marriage Septem- ber, 1877, to Miss Dora Lee Chambers, of Henderson, Ky. Their union was blessed with three boys, one of whom is dead. He was married the second time to Mrs. Ida N. Carpenter. Decem- ber 30, 1894, and to them has been born one child, Claude Matthews Winfrey.
STEPHEN BIEDERMANN,
A WORTHY and successful citizen of Evansville, was born in Germany, December 19, 1837, and is the son of Francz Matthias Biedermann, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1853. He married Miss Maria Frances Schwantner, also a native of Germany, and their union was blessed with five children-boys-the subject of this sketch being the second. Francz N.
Biedermann (father) located in Cook county, Ill., where he was engaged in farming for one year, when he removed to Chicago and there engaged in team- ing up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1866. Mrs. Maria F. Bie- dermann (mother) died in Chicago in 1857.
Stephen Biedermann was educated in the common schools of his native land. Until he was twenty years of age he worked in Chicago in the confectionery business and lived with his parents. In 1857 he went to Kansas and located at Leavenworth, where he learned the trade of stone mason. In 1858 he joined the Salt Lake expedition headed by A. Sidney Johnson, and was among the troops of fifteen hundred that crossed the plains and Rocky mountains. He had charge of a wagon and team and drove all the way from Leavenworth to Salt Lake, and, after remaining in the latter place two months, in the mean- time suffering many privations, returned to Leavenworth, and from there went to New Orleans, and for some time was engaged in steamboating on the Missis- sippi and Red rivers. He finally came up the Ohio river and landed at Louis- ville, Ky., from where he went across to Terre Haute, Ind., and there enlisted in the army, and was mustered in for three years, September 9, 1861, joining Company E, thirty-first Indiana Infantry. He participated in many battles, notably those of Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Chic- amauga, Resaca and Jonesboro. wherein he saw active service and was honorably discharged October 22, 1864. He then went to Chicago to spend a few months
DR. L. D. BROSE.
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with his father, and in 1865 came to Evansville, and was at various times, for four years, engaged in mining coal in the mines of and adjacent to Evans- ville. He would work in the mines in winter. and during the summer, when the weather was suitable, he followed his trade of stone mason. In 1869 Mr. Biedermann went to Washington, Ind., where for ten years he was engaged as mine superintendent, and was one year in the same capacity for a Brazil (Ind.) coal mining company. Leaving there he went to the Patoka Valley Coal Mining Company, and for two and a half years was with that concern in the capacity of superintendent. For two years following he was employed with B. Menden, of Evansville, in the coal mining business, and then began to operate a mine in Pike county, Ind., on his own account, which continued for four years, when Mr. Biedermann returned to Evansville, having previ- ously purchased the coal business for- merly run by George Stockfleth, and he has continued it successfully ever since. His office is now at 412 Upper Eighth street, and he handles all kinds of Indiana and Kentucky coal. Mr. Bie- dermann is an active and energetic member of the G. A. R. During Mr. Biedermann's long residence in Evans- ville he won the hearty approval and confidence of the people, while his cor- rect and honorable business policy has secured for him a large and increasing patronage He is a man of sterling integrity. and has a high standing, both in business and social circles.
He was united in marriage August 17,
1865, to Miss Katharine Schlotter. of Evansville, and their union has been blessed with eight children.
L. D. BROSE, M. D., Ph. D.,
THE eye ear, nose and throat special- ist, at St. Mary's hospital, was born in Evansville, April 20, 1859. Daniel Brose (father ) was a native of Germany, and he married Miss Christina F. Jenner, of Germany, and ten children blessed their union, the subject of this sketch being the eighth.
Dr. Brose received his elementary education in the public schools of Evans- ville, and, in 1877, began the study of medicine in the drug store of Dr. John Laval, and in 1877 studied medicine under the preceptorship of Drs. Bray, Wheeler and Austin. He graduated in medicine and philosophy at the univer- sity of Pennsylvania in 1881. He then served a year as house surgeon and physician in the German hospital at Philadelphia. He returned to Evans- ville and continued the practice of his profession until the fall of 1889, when he went to Europe and entered univer- sities in Vienna and Berlin, making a special study of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In 1891 he returned here and was appointed at St. Mary's. His thorough familiarity with the varied branches of the medical science, and the successes achieved in his practice, have gained for him a high rank among the physicians of the city. In 1896 Dr. Brose again went to Vienna, where he
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spent several months under the leading professors, seeking knowledge of the treatment of the eye, ear, nose and throat.
He was united in marriage in Dccem- ber, 1891, to Miss Matie Munger, of Oshkosh, Wis.
He is a member of the Royal Arca- num, A. O. U. W., Vanderburgh County Medical Society, Indiana State Medical Society, Mississippi Valley Medical Society, the Pan-American Congress and the International Medical Congress.
CHARLES HENRY DAVIES,
A PROMINENT builder and contractor of Evansville, was born in Chester, England, in 1861. His father, Thomas Davies, who descended from a most highly respected English family, was born in Chester, England, and engaged in brick contracting and building. Ile married Miss Sarah Fellows, also a native of England, and to them fourteen children were born, Charles H. being the sixth. Charles H. Davies came to America in 1883 and located in Evansville in 1885 and followed his occupation of brick layer. Two years subsequent, in connection with Mr. James Scarborough, under the firm name of Davies & Scarborough, he began to do a building and con- tracting business. There is no more elevating or honorable avocation than that of building and to-day numerous magnificent structures grace the city of
Evansville as the result of the labor of Charles H. Davies.
December 21, 1887, Mr. Davies was united in marriage to Miss Ada Wolf, of Evansville, and two children have issued from their union, as follows: Fannie, born in IS90, and Hugh Glad- stone, born in 1892. Miss Ada Wolf was a daughter of Mr. George Wolf, who was a native of Germany.
In speaking of Mr. Davies, one of the leading Evansville daily papers said: "During the years that Mr. Davies has been engaged in the building trades in this city he has built for himself a repu- tation for workmanship, square dealing and integrity that is equaled by few and surpassed by none. He is popular with all who know him and his acquaintances soon become his warm friends. In the contractor, the man who builds, must repose implicit confidence, and it can be said of Mr. Davies that he has never betrayed a trust. and has always given value received for every dollar ex- pended."
CHARLES F. H. LAVAL,
T REASURER of Vanderburgh county, was born in Evansville, July 27, 1854. John Laval (father) a native of Mainz, Germany, came to America in 1 848 and located in Evansville. He was successfully engaged in the drug business up to 1890, when he retired. He married Miss Mary Kron, of Ger. many, and eleven children blessed their
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CHAS. F. H. LAVAL.
FRED. GROTE.
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union, the subject of this sketch being the second. Charles F. H. Laval obtained his elementary education from the public schools of Evansville. and in 1872 entered the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, from which he graduated in 1874. He immediately entered his father's drug store as prescription clerk, remaining there until 1879, at which time he embarked in the drug business for himself, which continued until 1895, when he sold out to his youngest brother, Edward Laval.
His political affiliations are with the republican party, and he has always taken an active and energetie interest in the welfare thereof. In IS92 he became a candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated by only fourteen votes by Mr. James F. Saunders, who was mak. ing the race for his second term. Mr. Laval was re-nominated in 1894 and elected by the overwhelming majority of 1,600, the largest majority of any man on the ticket at that time. He is a member of the Masonic body and the Knights of Pythias, in both of which he is an active and helpful worker.
His record as a public officer is clean and honorable, possessing the qualities of true manliness he has attracted many friends and has deserved popularity. Honest purposes and laudable conduct have marked his career.
He was united in marriage December 26, 1877, to Terresa C. Doyle, a daugh- ter of James Doyle, a native of Ireland. Their union has been blessed with two children, as follows: Charles J., born August 23, 1879, and John, born April 23, 1893. 5
FRED. GROTE,
PRESIDENT of the F. Grote Manufac-
turing Co., was born in Prussia May 4, 1847, and when a boy came to America with his mother and located upon a farm three miles from Evansville.
William Grote, (father), was born in Prussia, and married Miss Laura Konaman, a native of Prussia, and to them five children were born, of which the subject of this sketch was the second. In 1856 his mother moved to a farm on Hickory Ridge, two miles from Hender- son. Here F. Grote spent his boyhood days farming and attending school alternately, and at the age of sixteen started out to fight life's battles for him- self. He early developed a taste for handling machinery and his first work in that line was in the position of fire- man in the Evansville woolen mills. He was subsequently promoted to engineer and remained with that institution seven years, when he entered the employ of Christian Decker, who had the first power wagon manufactory in Evans- ville. Later Mr. Grote returned to the Woolen mills, where he re- maineed another year. Then with what he earned by hard work and close economy he purchased a threshing machine and followed that business for three years. In 1871 water works were introduced in Evansville and Mr. Grote was employed for six months, putting in machinery for the Holly Co After- wards he was engaged by the city as engineer,, in which capacity he served five years. His next move was to start a machine shop with William H. Miller
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and John Mattock as partners under the is also the inventor of the Grote perfec- firm name of Grote & Co. They tion elevator, its most specific point being the safety device, which is claimed to be absolutely safe in its action. An- other of his noted inventions is"the Jarvis tobacco press; also quite a num- ber of inventions for handling leaf tobacco, too numerous to mention. operated successfully for nearly four years, when they consolidated with Frank Hopkins and established what was known as the Novelty machine works. Three years later Mr. Grote started the F. Grote Manufacturing Co., which he has operated prosperously every since.
Mr. Grote is a democrat in politics and in 1891 he was nominated for water works trustee, and notwithstanding it was a republican year, most of the democratic candidates meeting with de- feat Mr. Grote was elected by a majority of 345, and it is a matter of record that he made a most capable and efficient official.
As a member of the Evansville Manufacturers Association Mr. Grote was appointed by the chairman to pro- mote the beet sugar industry in this vicinity. He took up this subject and studied it in all its bearings and soon saw the importance and advantage for Evansville to secure such an in- dustry. He went to work with all the energy he possessed and devoted all his spare time to establish a beet sugar factory there, and at the present time the prospects are that success will crown his efforts. Since he has been connected with the F. Grote Manufacturing Co., he has been granted a number of valu- able patents, several of them being on the Grote sectional steam and hot water heater. In fact, his heating system is considered to be one of the most com- plete in existence, as it works almost automatic in all its details. Mr. Grote
When Mr. Grote was elected water works trustee he did much to further the interests of that institution. It was he who called the attention of the mayor, common council, manufacturers, busi- ness men and citizens to the condition of the water works and the necessity of rebuilding them. He was also author of reconstructing the water mains, so that the pressure would be uniform all over the city for fire and domestic pur- poses. Mr. Grote was also the promoter of a map, which showed all the under- ground work of the city water mains, of which there had been no previous record. He was always a strong advocate of fil- tered water, and is to this day.
When the Southern Hospital for the insane at Evansville, Ind., was com- pleted in 1890, the trustees were in a dilemma as to how to procure water for the institution. They sent for experts from different parts of the country, who came and bored wells on the grounds. and expended a great amount of money, but all without avail. Mr. Grote came to their rescue to solve this vexed ques- tion, and he pointed out the spot where the well should be bored, also bored the wells, designed and built the pumping machinery, which is operated by elec- tricity, he being one of the first, if not the first, who applied electric'power for
CHAS. S. WOODS.
CHAS. B. HARRIS.
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pumping water. He not only furnished the institution with water, but gave them an unlimited supply, which has been used since 1891.
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