USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Biographical cyclopedia of Vanderburgh County, Indiana : embracing biographies of many of the prominent men and families of the county > Part 6
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Mr. Legler's affiliations are with the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, Elks and A. O. U. W.
He was united in marriage to Miss Marion Bonnel, a native of Vander- burgh county, in October, ISSS, and five children have blessed their union.
WILLIAM G. RALSTON,
W TELL-KNOWN physician of Evansville and pioneer citizen, was born in Princeton, Gibson county, Indiana, Feb- ruary, 1819, where he received his elementary education from the then imperfect schools of Gibson county. His paternal grandfather, William Rals- ton, participated in the siege of York- town, when Cornwallis surrendered to Washington, also in the war of 1812. His maternal grandfather, Major Joseph Neely, was major of a regiment in the revolutionary war, and was also in the siege of Yorktown.
Andrew Ralston, (father), was a soldier in the war of 1812, having entered when he was but eighteen years old. He was married in 1818 to Miss Patsy Neely, daughter of Major Joseph Neely, of Kentucky. Their union was blessed with five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first.
William G. Ralston spent his early boyhood days working on his father's farm in summer and attending the com- mon schools in winter. This monoton- ous life continued until 1840, when he realized some better results by teaching
school, which he did for one year. In IS41 he located in Posey county, Indiana, and began the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. Joseph Neely, who was then practicing at Cynthiana. After a four year's course of hard study there he located in Boon- ville, Indiana, where he practiced medi- cine until 1863. Then he attended a course of lectures at Cincinnati in the Ohio Medical College and afterwards was graduated from the Medical College of Evansville. From IS45 to 1863 Dr. Ralston followed his profession in Boonville and the adjoining counties of Spencer, Pike and Vanderburgh. In those days when bridle paths served as highways in many portions of the country the physicians who did a riding practice, found it very laborious, and in covering the territory on horseback he endured many hardships that would break down ordinarily the best consti- tution. No matter how rough the weather, nor how dark the night, Dr. Ralston was ever ready to answer the signal of distress and his indomitable will carried him through and it is a re- markable fact that he was never sick but one week consecutively.
At the beginning of the civil war he was appointed by Governor Morton sergeant of the Eighty-First Regiment Indiana Volunteers. After serving less than one year in the army of the Cum- berland and while he was still engaged with his regiment he was appointed ser- geant of the board of enrollment of the first congressional district of Indiana. The secretary of war made the appoint- ment without the knowledge of Dr.
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DR. W. G. RALSTON.
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FRANK TARDY.
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Ralston He examined over 10,000 volunteers, substitutes and drafted men, and continued in that position until April 14, 1865, when he returned to the practice of his profession, locating in Evansville. He was appointed United States surgeon of the Marine hospital at Evansville, in which capacity he served four years, and he also served four years as United States pension ex- aminer at Evansville.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Crescent lodge No. 122, and for nearly three score years has been a prominent, consistent and helpful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Politically he was originally a whig, but has been a republican since the organi- zation of that party, faithfully exercis- ing at all times the rites of citizenship. By his faithfulness and kindness in the discharge of his duties he has greatly endeared himself to every one through- out this section of the country, and no man has more influence with the people of his community. He is a man of the most remarkable energy, as is evidenced by the fact that while in the active practice of his profession he also finds time to devote to scientific matters and is the patentee of the Ralston bed warmer, which is one of the most use- ful as well as luxurious inventions of the day. It is a device whereby the com- fort and pleasure of a warm bed may be had in a cold room at a nominal expense. It is of incalculable benefit in the sick room and as a sanitary help it is indispensible.
Dr. Ralston was united in marriage in April, 1850, to Miss Isabelle
Matthewson, daughter of Dr. R. C. Matthewson. Mrs. Ralston was born September 20, 1830, and died in 1882. Their union was blessed with three children, as follows: William M., Charles N. and Andrew G. The eldest of these died in Texas in 1885.
FRANK TARDY,
PROMINENT business man of Evans- ville, was born at Vevay, Switzer- land county. Indiana, June 24, 1846.
George F. Tardy (father) was a native of France, and married Miss Matilda Martin. Their union was blessed with three children, the subject of this sketch being the first. Frank Tardy's boyhood days were spent in Vevay and he received his education at Hanover college, this state. While quite young he ran away from school and home and took a place as cabin-boy on a steam- boat in-the Ohio river trade. He con- tinned steamboating from that time until ISSo, occupying during that time all the different positions from cabin- boy to captain, including pilot. He came to Evansville in October, ISSo, and opened a ship chandler's store, which he has continued up to the pres- ent time. He began on a small capital but by industry and economy, has suc- ceeded in accumulating a comfortable competence. Mr. Tardy is a member of the Business Men's Association and the Knights of Honor fraternity, of which he is an active and helpful worker.
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He is also a member of the Court of Honor.
Mr. Tardy was united in marriage November 5, 1872, to Miss Annie Yates, a native of New Orleans, and their union has been blessed with three children, as follows: Tillie, Estella and Adah. Adah married Mr. Frank L. Pierce, employed by Bement & Seitz, of Evansville.
MICHAEL CRISLE,
A PROMINENT and successful lumber dealer of Evansville, was born in Hamilton county, Illinois, January 29, 1849. His father, George Crisle, was born in Pennsylvania, and was engaged in farming. He married Miss Delila Stobuck, and six children blessed their union as follows: Michael, William, Henry, Mary, Adaline and Sarah.
Mr. Crisle is in every way a self-made man. He has been dealing in lumber of all kinds and cross ties for a number of years-almost a quarter of a cen- tury-and by careful, shrewd and eco- nomical means has built an enviable reputation for himself. He is a man of means and affairs and owns large tracts of timbered and farming land in Indiana. Illinois and Missouri.
Mr. Crisle was married in May, 1872, to Miss Caroline Gillman, daughter of Charles Gillman, who was a carpenter and native of Illinois. To them have been born four children, as follows: John, Edith, Eva and Elta. Mr. Crisle is a member of the Masonic order.
GEORGE W. HAYNIE,
A PROMINENT citizen of Evansville, and proprietor of a retail drug house at the corner of Second street and Adams avenue, was born in New. burgh, Indiana, February 22, 1857, and is the son of Jefferson and Emma ( Hastings) Haynie, both natives of the state of Indiana. His parents died in ISSo, the two deaths occurring within one month of each other. George W. Haynie was reared in Evansville, his parents removing to the city in 1868. His mental training was obtained in the public schools. He began to hustle for himself when about eleven years of age, and in 1872 engaged in the drug and prescription business in the store of T. C. Bridwell, ex-mayor of Evansville In 1884 he withdrew from the employ of Mr. Bridwell and opened a drug establishment on Main street, where he remained until October, ISS7, when he sold out to Mr. J. M. Compton. He then established himself at his present quarters, where he has one of the best and neatest stores in Indiana. Mr. Haynie has figured prominently in politics, and in 1883 was appointed Metropolitan police commissioner of Evansville, which was quite a compli- ment to one of his age. He held the position only a short time and then re- signed. He is a member of the Orion lodge No. 37, K. of P., and of Leni Leoti lodge No. 43. A. O. U. W.
He was made surveyor of the port of Evansville by President Cleveland in IS92, and no better or popular appoint- ment could possibly have been made.
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M. CRISLE.
GEO. W. HAYNIE.
L. J. HERMAN.
H. T. DIXON.
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Among his fellows in the drug business he is as generally respected as he is by his life long acquaintances, as is attested by his selection for president of the Indiana Pharmaceutical Association.
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LOUIS J. HERMAN,
P ROMINENT attorney at law of Evans- ville, was born in Evansville June 17, 1867. He was graduated from the law department at Notre Dame class of 1890. He began the practice of law with James T. Walker, of Evansville, in June of that year. His grand parents were of the pioneer citizens of Evans- ville, having located here in 1835. His father, Jacob Herman, an enterprising candy manufacturer, was born in Evans- ville in 1842. His mother was Miss Mary Marshall, a daughter of Casper Marshall, of Evansville.
Mr. Herman was for two years con- nected with Judge Peter Maier in the practice of his profession. Their part- nership was discontinued in January, 1897, when Mr. Robert M. Cox became the partner of Mr. Herman.
He was married in 1894, to Miss Kate Garvey, one of Evansville's most talented and esteemed young ladies. Louis J. Herman has won distinction as a lawyer of unusual ability, and enjoys a large general practice. He is a man in whom the people have implicit confidence. His reputation is not merely local, for he is one of the best known of the younger attorneys in southern Indiana.
H. T. DIXON,
A PROMINENT and leading physician of Evansville, was born in Hender- son county, Kentucky, March 20. 1850, enjoys the distinction of belonging to that large class of self-made men, who are born to the soil.
His father was a native of Henderson county, where he was engaged in farm- ing and died in ISS4. He was a man of sterling character, honored, loved and respected by all who knew him. Ile married Miss Isabella P. Clay, of Henderson county, Kentucky, and to them were born ten children, of which the subject of this sketch was the fourth.
Dr. Dixon spent his boyhood days on the farm where he worked in summer and attended the common schools in the winter.' He finished his education by taking a special course of study under the tutorship of Prof. Gibson, an able instructor of Vanderburgh county. In 1868 he began to read medicine under the preceptorship of his brother, Dr. R. S. Dixon, who was then practicing medicine in Posey county, Indiana. He took three courses in the university of Louisville, Kentucky, beginning in 1872 and was graduated in 1878. He immediately began to practice his pro- fession in Posey county with his brother, and subsequently practicing alone in Vanderburgh county. Then for five years he practiced in Henderson county, and in 1884 came to Evansville. In the seventeen years of his active professional life in Evansville, Dr. Dixon has estab- lished himself in the confidence of his numerous patrons, who firmly believe
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VANDERBURGH COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
in him as a man of honor and a physician of great ability. He attends strictly to his large practice and has no interest in any other kind of business, nor is he carried away with politics or money. making schemes. Of a genial dispo- sition and social nature, he is popular in the society of his friends and in the benevolent orders to which he be- longs. He is a master Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor. He is also a member of the following medical associations: Vanderburgh Medical Society, State Medical Society, American Medical Association. Ile is at present secretary of the board health.
Dr. Dixon was united in marriage October 1, 1878, to Miss Amelia Wilson. of Louisville, Kentucky, and to them were born three children, one of whom Percy Goodwin Dixon, survives.
EDWARD JURGENSMEIER,
A LEADING contractor and highly re- spected citizen of Evansville, was born in Evansville February 22, 1857.
Joseph Jurgensmeier (father) was a native of Prussia, born October 27, 1823, and came to America in 1845, locating in Evansville and was success- fully engaged in the grocery business up to the time of his death, in 1874. He married Miss Wilhelmine Dedank, and to them were born seven children, the subject of this sketch being the fourth. Mrs. Wilhelmine (Dedank) Jurgensmeier is still living, and resides
with her son, Edward, on Columbia street, in Evansville.
Edward Jurgensmeier received his early mental training in the public schools of Evansville, and when he grew to manhood learned the carpen- ters' trade, and learned it well. This occupation he followed from 1871 to ISSo, when he began to do a contract. ing business on his own account, which he followed successfully until 1888. At that time he discontinued the carpenter contracting business, and began to do slate and tile roofing, which he has fol- lowed very successfully ever since. While contracting Mr. Jurgensmeier placed to his credit many handsome structures in and around Evansville. notably, St. Anthony's church, St. Mary's school house, the Vendel-Smith block on Main street and a school building for the Sisters of St. Francis. Since he has been in the roofing busi- ness he has covered St. Mary's hospital, St. Anthony's church, St. Mary's school building, the First Presbyterian and the First Baptist churches of Henderson. Kentucky; the German Methodist church in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, Dr. Watson's residence in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, the First Presbyterian and Methodist churches in Carmi, Illinois, William Heilman's residence on Second street and many others which we have not space to mention.
Mr. Jurgensmeier is a member of the Catholic church, St. Anthony's Benevo- lent Society, C. K. of A .. K. of St. J., in all of which he is an active and help- ful worker. He served the city as councilman one term, from 1895 to
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EDWARD JURGENSMEIR.
THOS. N. BEIDELMAN.
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1897, and was re-elected in the spring he remained two years. Led by the of 1897 to another term of two years. His affiliations are with the democratic party.
He was united in marriage May 3, ISSI, to Miss Anna Lentzenich, and seven children, four of whom survive, have blessed their union. The living children are Frank, born November 4, 1883; Delia, born May 21, 1890; Silves- ter, born October 6, 1892, and Ida, born November 19, 1895.
THOMAS BEIDELMAN,
P ROMINENT citizen and real estate dealer of Evansville, was born in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, July 15, 1850. His elementary education was obtained in the common schools of southern Illinois. George Beidelman (father ) was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to Illinois at an early day, and was engaged as a carpenter and cabinet-maker. He married Miss Jane Ulm, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
When sixteen years of age Thomas began to learn the carpenter and cabi- net-making trade, in Fairfield, Illinois, which he followed for five years. In 1871 he moved to White Cloud, Kansas, and there for two years was successfully engaged in contracting and building. At the expiration of that time he returned to Carmi, Illinois, working at his trade for three years, and subse- quently entered the employ of the Gravett & Johnson Sawmill Company, as bookkeeper, and with that concern 7
star of ambition, his next move would doubtless have yielded an abundance of fruit, and but for an unforeseen circum- stance, he might yet be in the lumber business. Ile purchased the Moline Plow Company's sawmill plant, which he operated successfully for three years. It was located on the little Wabash river, which was afforded a navigable depth of water by a dam located at New Haven, thirty miles below.
There was an annual overflow of water which was detrimental to the farm land in that vicinity. The state authorities took the matter in hand, the result being the removal of the dam, which, of course, destroyed the facilities for bringing logs to the mill and ruined the usefulness of the plant. Mr. Beidel- man entered claim with the Illinois leg- islature for $17,000, which is still pending.
He removed to Evansville in ISSS, and engaged in the real estate business, and in that line has been eminently sue- cessful. There was considerable prop- erty on Water street belonging to the Conrad Baker heirs which had been idle for twenty years. This Mr. Beidel- man opened and sold out in lots, and to-day a number of houses adorn what was once an open field. There was also another piece of ground at the intersection of Second and Emmett streets, belonging to Alvah Johnson, which Mr. Beidelman sub-divided into twenty-seven lots, and it is a remarkable fact that within six days from the time he purchased it, every lot was sold. He purchased several acres of land east of
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the city and laid out what is known as good lawyer, sound judgment, a clear Clairmont Place. It is now adorned by numerous and handsome cottages.
He was united in marriage December 22, 1869, to Miss Susan B. Fitzgerrell, daughter of Isaac Fitzgerrell, and two children have blessed their union, as follows: Maud, now the wife of E. M. Tinker, and Leonard, employed by the L. & N. R. R. Co. Leonard Beidel- man (son) married Miss Ada Bullock, of Evansville, and one child-a boy- has issued from their union.
JOHN BROWNLEE,
PROMINENT attorney at law of Evans- ville, was born at Princeton, Indiana, August 23, 1847. His early mental training was received from the public schools of Gibson county. He entered the Albany, New York, law school, from where he was graduated in June, 1866. In 1869 he began the practice of law in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. He was elected, in 1870, prosecuting attorney of the First Judicial District, then com- posed of the counties of Posey, Gibson, Vanderburgh and Warrick, which office he held for five successive terms. He located in Evansville in June, 1877. Was appointed city attorney in 1889. which position he ably and satisfactorily filled for three years.
Mr. Brownlee has been a successful practitioner, and is prominent as a poli- tician and popular as a man. He is one of the most brilliant attorneys at the bar and possesses the qualifications of a and began the practice of law.
mind, retentive memory, oratorical ability and familiarity with the law. At the age of fourteen Mr. Brownlee enlisted in the Union army, joining Company F, Fifty-eighth Indiana Vol- unteers, in October, 1861, and served three years with much credit to himself. He is a member of the G. A. R. and Masonic lodge.
Mr. Brownlee was married April 2, 1878, to Miss Mittie Templeton, daugh- ter of Mr. James M. Templeton, of Mt. Vernon, and three children bless their union, as follows: June, Dalmar and Geneva.
Mr. Brownlee's father was John Brownlee, of Princeton, Indiana, who married Miss Jane Harrington, also of Princeton.
WALTER F. FREUDENBERG,
A YOUNG, able attorney and a member of the Evansville bar, was born in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1867. His early mental training he obtained from the common schools of Gibson county. Ilis father, Joshua Freudenberg, was born February 22, 1835. He is success- fully engaged in farming in Gibson county, and in 1856 married Miss Elizabeth Fulling, daughter of Clamar Fulling. Their union was blessed with six children, Walter F. being the youngest. In 1889 Walter entered the literary and law department of the State University and graduated with the class of 1892, was at once admitted to the bar
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W. F. FREUDENBERG.
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A. H. SCHROEDER.
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Walter F. Freudenberg is rapidly taking his position in the front ranks of the members of the Evansville bar. His intense interest in any case which he undertakes and his deep enthusiasm and great earnestness carry conviction. He is known as a book lawyer, plodding patiently through authorities and works his cases thoroughly. He has not been a creature of advantageous circum- stances, but has struggled against adversity, and by dint of persevering industry is achieving rapidly and honor- ably a brilliant career.
A. H. SCHROEDER,
A WORTHY citizen of Evansville, en- gaged in electro plating and manu- facturing of head lights, was born December 11, 1836, in the Province of Hanover, Germany, and is the son of John Henry and Kratina MI. (Heit- brink) Schroeder, both natives of Ger- many. The father came to America about 1862, and the mother lived and died in her native country. John Henry Schroeder first located in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and afterwards moved to Jackson county, Indiana, and later to Ripley county, Indiana. He was a man of sterling integrity, honest, upright and hard working, but having a family of fourteen children to supply the wants of found it impossible to accumulate a very considerable amount of capital. Therefore, A. H. Schroeder was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and as soon as he had received a meagre
education from the common schools of his native land, he started out alone for America, at the age of seventeen. He had not even accumulated sufficient money to defray the absolute expenses of the trip, which were paid by his parents. He landed in the United States, an inexperienced boy, without means and no friends to encourage or to boost him. He located in Cincinnati, and for twelve years was employed in various foundries, and while there met and married Miss Mary E. Wolke, who had come from very near the same place where Mr. Schroeder lived in Germany, although they had not known each other until they met in Cincinnati. In 1866 Mr. Schroeder left Cincinnati to come to Evansville to work for Roelker, Blount & Co., which firm was afterwards changed to John H. Roelker & Co. His work was that of finishing house fronts and fences, and he re- mained with them ten years or more. He was afterwards employed by J. B. Mesker & Co. and also by Charles Lindenschmidt & Brothers, proprietors of the old Washington foundry, in Evansville.
Having higher aims in view, and believing that the same energy applied in his own behalf would net better results than working for wages, Mr. Schroeder commenced business for him- self, in 1884, by starting a nickel plating industry. It required a great deal of courage and self-confidence for a man to embark in an enterprise entirely new to him; but he had determined "to do or to die," believing that " where there's a will there's a way." His was, at that
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time, the only institution of the kind in southern Indiana. He soon mastered the details of the business, and before many months was doing an ex- tensive and lucrative business in gold, silver, nickel and all kinds of plating. Others watched him with envy, and large manufactories, following his exam- ple, added a plating department to their business. This, of course, created great competition, and the supply became greater than the demand. But A. H. Schroeder was not the man to sit idly by and hold his hands. When the plating business became light, he re- solved to add another feature to his business, which he did by beginning to manufacture locomotive head lights. He had no knowledge of the business, but took it up and learned it thoroughly, and to-day enjoys an extensive trade reaching to all parts of the United States, and he has even filled orders coming from the Republic of Mexico. In February, 1888, Mr. Schroeder bought the property at 1114 and 1120 Main street, a splendid two-story brick building, and also owns the property at 1047 to 1053 Vine street. There is always a keen sense of delight in chron- icling the triumph and success of men who have opened factories, but when a man is found who had courage to start two different enterprises, without any knowledge of either, and succeeds in conducting them both to a successful issue, it baffles one to find words suffi- cient to sound his praises. The plating done in Mr. Schroeder's establishment is not surpassed, if equalled, by any other concern in the United States.
The general satisfaction of his head lights is amply attested by the ever increasing demand for them. In all his business relations with the public, as well as in the wide circle of personal friends, Mr. Schroeder has enjoyed great popularity, his genial, courteous manner, obliging disposition and natural kindliness toward others winning him a host of friends, while his splendid busi- ness qualifications and methods have won the esteem and confidence of the business community.
He is an ardent republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, always liberal in his support of his party, but has never sought, nor would he accept any political office. He and his wife are members of the German Reform church of Evansville, in which they are both useful and helpful work- ers. Their union has been blessed with eight children, four of whom survive. the other four having died before reaching the age of two years. Of the surviving children two are boys and two are girls, as follows: Charles, A. II .. Anna and Lizzie, who married Louis Rieger, a native of Elsas and Lothingen, a province taken from France in the late Franco-German war. She is now a widow, and is employed as saleslady in the millinery department of William Hughes' store, on Main street. Both the boys and also the unmarried daugh- ter assist their father in his business, and they have always worked hard to take care of and foster his interests. The son, A. H., Jr., was married December 16, 1896, to Miss Lizzie Koehnen, of Evansville.
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