USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 44
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The domestic life of Mr. Bass began September 14. 1892, when he was married to Laura J. Wilson, daughter of Riley B. and Mahala HI. Wilson, all of Union township. where they have long been known as one of the influential families of that vicinity. Three interesting children have blessed the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Bass, namely: Lewis .A., Frances Irene and Milton Wilson Bass.
Frank Bass is well known as a local worker in the Republican ranks, as is also his brother. Milton. The former was elected to the City Council in 1808 and served until 1902. during which time the interests of the city were care-
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fully looked after, so well in fact, that he was again elected Councilman in 1905 to serve until January 1, 1910. In 1902 he was elected to fill out an unexpired ferm on the school board in Shelbyville. He served for two years, during which time the Carnegie library was completed. he taking no small part in the finishing of the same. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is a Mason, a member of the Baldwin Commandery, No. 2. Knights Templar: also the Order of Mystic Shrine. the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. He takes a great deal of interest in lodge work, and he is held in high esteem in lodge, business. church and social circles as a result of his honorable and industrious career and the worthy family which he represents.
FRANKLIN E. RAY. M. D.
The well known physician and surgeon whose name appears above has not only achieved marked success in his profession and attained high standing among the leading medical men of Shelby county, but to him belongs the dis- tinction of being a representative of two old and well known families who figured prominently in the pioneer history of this part of the state. As early as the year 1821. Hutson Ray, the subject's great-grandfather, and his brother James Ray, together with Henry Nail. the doctor's paternal great-grandfather, and their respective families, moved to Shelby county from North Carolina, and settled near Wray church in the townships of Brandywine and .Addison. the last named locating in the valley from which he was frequently obliged to move to the higher land during the prevalence of spring freshets and other high waters.
The Doctor's grandfather was Bryant Ray, son of Hutson Ray, and was thirteen years old when the family came to this county. Martha Nail, whom he subsequently married, being twelve years of age at that time.
After their marriage Bryant and Martha Ray settled in Brandywine town- ship, and in due time the former cleared and improved a good farm and be- . came. one of the substantial citizens of his community. He died in 1853, aged forty-five, his widow surviving him until October 15. 1907, when she de- parted this life within a few days of the one hundredth anniversary of her birth. Mrs. Ray was a woman of extraordinary physical vigor, which, with her strong mental powers she retained to a marked degree until her death. In her ninety-first year she could walk with ease a distance of ten miles with but few intervals of rest, and her portrait, taken when she was ninety-eight, with a family group. shows every feature clear and distinct, and would impress a stranger as one at least twenty years younger. Bryant and Martha Ray reared four children, am'mg whom was a son by the name of James, the father
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( four subject. He married a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca Booher. natives of Pennsylvania, and among the carly settlers of Marion township. Shelby county. Mrs. Ray had three brothers who served in the Civil war. one of whom was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville.
The family of James and Minerva Ray consisted of six children, four of whom are living. two dying in childhood. Charles B. lives at Fairland. and is a carpenter by occupation, in addition to which he devotes some consideration to teaching : he is a married man, the father of two children, Roy and Pearl. Jacob L. lives in Shelbyville and hokls a position with the I. and C. Traction Railnad. He, too, is married. Walter Scott, the fourth of the surviving children, lives in Shelbyville and has ? wife and one son by the name of Burke.
Dr. Franklin E. Ray, the oldest member of the family, was born October 16, 1865. on the homestead in Brandywine township, and spent the years of his childhood and youth in close touch with the scenes of rural life. Attending the public schools at intervals. he subsequently studied the higher branches of learning at Fairland and St. Paul, and after finishing the high school course at the latter place, he turned his attention to teaching, which he followed with gratifying success for a period of four years, in his native township. Having · decided upon the medical profession as best suited to his tastes and inclinations he began preparing himself for the same in the spring of 1885. by a course of reading in the office of Doctor J. K. Stewart. of Fairland, and after three years under the direction of that able physician, he entered in October, 1888. the Medical College of Indianapolis, from which he was graduated two years later.
While attending the above institution he spent all of his leisure with Dr. J. W. Marsee, one of the most distinguished surgeons of Indianapolis. from whom he received much valuable instruction and to whom he attributes not a little of his success since engaging in the practice of his profession.
Immediately after receiving his degree Doctor Ray spent one year in the City Hospital of Indianapolis, where he acquired much practical experience by coming in contact with many of the diseases to which humanity is heir. besides gaining a valuable knowledge of surgery which rendered him proficient in that branch of the profession when he opened an office of his own. In August, 1891. he was appointed assistant physician of the Central Indiana Hospital . for the Insane. at Indianapolis, which important position he worthily filled during six years ensuing, and in which he made rapid advancement. discharg- ing his duties with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his su- periors. Severing his connection with that insttution in September. 1897. Doc- tor Ray located at Fairland, where he practiced for a period of four years, when he chose a larger and more inviting field for the exercise of his talents in the city of Shelbyville, where since 1901 he has devoted his attention very closely to his profession with the result that he now has a large and lucrative business
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which is steadily growing in magnitude and importance. He is held in high esteem. not only by his professional contemporaries but also by the general public, being regarded as an excellent family physician.
Doctor Ray was elected Coroner of Shelby county in tooo, and filled the position to the satisfaction of all concerned for two terms. having been re- elected in the year 1902. He is a member of the Shelby County Medical Society, the Medical Association of Indiana, and for several years has been medical examiner of the New York Life Insurance Company, to say nothing of his connection with various other organizations for the advancement of medical science. His fraternal relations include membership with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias. Modern Woodmen and the Order of Ben Hur. in all of which he is an active and influential worker, besides holding positions of honor and trust from time to time. The Doctor's office. No. 1712 on the public square, contains three commodious apartments equipped with every modern implement and appliance known to the profession. and his residence at No. 256 South Pike street. is one of the beautiful and at- tractive homes in the city.
In politics Doctor Ray is a Democrat, though somewhat conservative in his views, and in religion he subscribes to the Methodist church. of Shelbyville, but believes in the good work and beneficial influence of all churches, irrespec- tive of name or creed. The Doctor's domestic Bife dates from September 30. 1897. when he was united in marriage at Columbus; Indiana, with Allie Davis. daughter of William and Sarah J. ( Duncan ) Davis, formerly of Bartholo- mew county, but now residents of Indianapolis. the union being without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are of staunch Eastern Quaker stock : they are the parents of five children Besides the wife of our subject, they are: William A., of Chicago: Nettie. wife of Charles Hamilton, of Indianapolis; Mrs. IFattie Heagey, of Dexter. Mo .. and Mrs. Bessie Moore, of Columbus, Indiana.
Doctor Ray is a self-made man, and as such ranks among the ablest of his contemporaries. While in college he paid his way by teaching, and in ob- taining his professional education he was obliged to rely entirely upon his own efforts. His progress has been eminently satisfactory.
JOHN DAY DEPREZ.
The family of this name has been represented in Shelby county by two generations not including the original founders and the younger element not attending school. John Day, as he is popularly known, who came on the stage of action some years after the Civil war, is a representative of the second generation of the DePrezs, and during his comparatively brief business career
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has borne with eredit the honorable name that was part of his inheritance. His grandfather was John Deprez, who came to the county at a date suffi- ciently early to be classed as a pioneer and founder of one of the most exten- sive and influential families in Shelbyville. The list of his children being given in other sketches in this volume, it is not necessary to repeat them here. John C. DePrez. one of his sons, has been connected prominently for many years with the business development of Shelbyville. being a m wing spirit and large stockholder in one of the earliest of the furniture manufactories. He is a man of genial disposition, popular manners and sympathetic with the misfortunes of his fellow man, whom he always stands ready to aid with a kind word or more substantial donation. In early manhood he married Zora L. Miller, a lady of many superior qualities and social graces, which made her a welcome visitor in the best social circles.
John Day DePrez, one of the children by this union, was born one mile from Shelbyville. Indiana, October 1. 1872. He graduated with honor from the schools at Shelbyville and then took a two years' course at Hanover Col- lege. In September. 1892. he entered the Shelby bank, a private institution. and served in different capacities for ten years, being finally forced to retire on account of ill health. Deciding that a change of climate would be beneficial. Mr. DePrez rusticated for some time in Colorado and came back re-invigorated as the result of contact with the mountain air and pure water of the Rockies. Returning home after a short sojourn in the West. he set about organizing a company to purchase the Shelby Democrat. the old-time organ started in 1878 by Mesers. Ray, Sutton and MeCorkle, but at this time being conducted by a publishing company. Mr. DePrez as the principal stockholder, editor and business manager, assumed charge of the plant on June 4. 1904. He reorganized the forces, inspired new life in the business and by his energetic and diplomatic management soon brought about a great improvement in the circulation receipts. The Shelby Democrat in fact regained its old prestige and greatly added thereto, being now recognized as one of the leading county seat papers of the state and the acknowledged organ of the Democratic party in the territory where it circulates. The weekly circulation, now more than two thousand. exceeds that of any other paper in the Sixth Congressional Dis- triet. The Democrat is clean in tone, spicy in comments and able in argument. while the news features are reliable and fully abreast of the requirements of first-class journalism. Mr. DePrez's own character of fairness and square dealing is reflected in the pages of the paper he controls and edits, nothing being allowed to enter its columns that savors of the "yellow" or indecently sensational. Such a paper always grows in popularity as it grows in age and the present status of the Shelby Democrat is a high tribute to Mr. DePrez's business ability, organizing talent and instinctive knowledge of the requisites for successful editorial work. Though potential in putting others into office.
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and a party worker of great skill and 1x pularity, Mr. DePrez has no political aspirations of his own. He says laughingly. that the only public office he ever had was that of Councilman, and he never desires another. Though often urged to take the nomination for Mayor and other offices of importance, he has steadfastly refused. preferring to work in the ranks in recognition of the maxim that "the post of honor is the private station." He does not, however. begrudge either time or money to help friends, and for twelve years has been chairman of the Democratic City Committee. In this capacity he has managed several hard-fought campaigns, showing a tirelessness in effort and a resource- fulness in plans that bespeak the natural born political leader.
On October 28. 1903. Mr. DePrez was united in marriage with Emma. daughter of George and Frances ( Robins) Senour, one of the oldest and most influential of the city's prosperous families. They reside in a pleasant home at 82 Mechanic street, where hospitality and good cheer are dispensed to an ever increasing circle of friends.
Mr. DePrez is a Knight Templar Mason, past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Elks, Improved Order of Red Men and Ben Hur. In addition to these regular fraternal relationships he renews his college fellowship as a member of the Phi Delta Theta, Greek fraternity, and is a con- spicuous figure at the annual meetings and banquets. Mr. DePrez's religious affiliations are with the First Presbyterian church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal.
LOUIS HOLTMAN.
The family of this name is of German origin on the side of both father and mother, and became identified with the development of the United States during the second quarter of the nineteenth century. John H. Holtman, a native of Nuremburg, married Catherine Robbers, who, like himself. had been born and reared near the same German city. They remained there some years after their marriage, but in 1835 determined to try their fortunes in the New World, and took passage on a vessel that landed them at New Orleans. Push- ing north they found a home at Evansville, Indiana, where the father carried cn tailoring business until his death in 1856. His widow married Ferdinand Volmer, with whom she lived until his death. She died in 1876. By her first marriage she had nine children of whom six grew to maturity. Mary, who married John Pohlhaus, died at Evansville. John H., now deceased, was a harnessmaker at Evansville: Dora, widow of Joseph Thole, is a resident of the same city : Christena, the youngest surviving child, is the wife of Reuben Lamb. of Evansville. By the second marriage Mrs. Volmer had one son, Henry F .. of Jeffersonville.
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Louis Holtman. fourth of the first family in order of birth, was born at Evansville, Indiana. October 6. 1851, and received his education in the paro- chial school of the Roman Catholic church of his native city. April 12. 1865. when in his fourteenth year. he entered the office of the Democrat. a German newspaper, as an apprentice to the printer's trade. When the Courier was founded he joined the mechanical force of that newspaper and there com- pleted his apprenticeship. After he reached the dignity of a journeyman printer he worked in various offices in different parts of the country, and dur- ing this period managed to save some money. In 1876, with two associates, he purchased the Terre Haute Journal, which proved a losing venture in which he sank all of his capital. In 18So he founded the Springfield Illinois Sunday Mail, a society paper, which he disposed of after conducting it for something over a year. His next employment was as foreman in offices at Keokuk. Iowa. and St. Louis, Missouri. September 1, 1884. Mr. Holtman purchased the Brazil, Indiana. Democrat, four years later founded the daily edition of the same paper and conducted the business until 1901. In April of that year he disposed of his interests. came to Shelbyville in August and purchased the Jeffersonian, daily and weekly, which he managed for the six following years. In 1908 he sold a half interest in the business to John J. Wingate. changed the name of his paper to the Morning and Weekly News, and these publications have since continued under the ownership of Holtman & Wingate. February 19, 1897. Mr. Holtman was elected president of the National Editorial Asso- ciation, then in convention at Galveston, Texas. A notable event of this oc- casion was a trip to Mexico, participated in by some three hundred editors and their wives, winding up with a visit to the capital, where Mr. Holtman re- sponded to a speech of welcome by President Diaz. In September. 1898. he presided at the association's annual convention in Denver. Mr. Holtman's fraternal relations have been extensive and conspicuous. He was a charter member and first Grand Knight of the Council of Knights of Columbus at Shelbyville. He was for a number of years an active member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and at one time was elected Grand Master Work- man of Indiana, which honor he declined. Like his ancient ancestors for gene- rations, he is a devotee of the Roman Catholic church and also holds mem- bership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
January 21, 1871. Mr. Holtman was married to Siberia May Murphy, who died March 20, 1899, leaving one child. Harriet May, wife of A. W. Chase, cashier of the First National bank, of Moultrie. Georgia. May 15, 1900, Mr. Holtman was married to Mrs. Julia Cornet. nee Weis, of Madison. Indiana, who by her first marriage had a daughter named Elizabeth. Though a man of wide acquaintance in many states. Mr. Holtman is best known as a newspaper man. That business he knows from the ground up. having com- menced with "devil's work" and gone through all the stages in the mechanical
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business and editorial departments. While he has had the "ups and downs" inseparable from this arduous profession, he has on the whole done well. and made a success of his calling. As a writer he has developed an incisive style and understands how to present questions forcefully. yet in limited space. Sensitive in nature, quiet in manner. his business dealings are direct and his convictions on all questions strongly held and sincerely expressed.
CHRISTIAN F. H. AUMAN.
Although of quiet and unassuming disposition and a home-loving rather than a public man, the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the best known business men of Shelbyville, where he has long maintained his home. Christian F. II. Auman, as the name indicates, is a German. having been born in Diepholz. Hanover, in 18449, and he was educated in the Father- land, but believing that greater opportunities awaited him in the New World. in the year 1868. then a lad of nineteen. he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed in the harbor of New York. He penetrated to the interior, taking up his residence in Cincinnati. Before leaving his native land he had learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and he found employment in that line of work in Cin- cinnati, being a skilled workman. He was engaged in this line until 1882. when he was made superintendent of the factory, having shown that he was eminently qualified to manage the same satisfactorily.
In 1890 Mr. Auman came to Shelbyville. Indiana, where he found the same kind of employment. In 1894 he became a stockholder in the Shelby- ville Wardrobe Company, and since then he has become vice-president and treasurer of the company, and owing very largely to his business ability and his minute knowledge of details in this business. the company enjoys a liberal patronage.
Mr. Auman was married in 1872 to Henrietta Reineberg, of Cincinnati. She came from the same part of Germany that our subject hailed from. hay- ing preceded him to America by one month. To this union eight children have been born, two having died in infancy. The other children all live in Shelby- · ville except one daughter. Mrs. Emma Smith, who lives at Eaton, Ohio. The other children are Sulu. Edward. Harry, Alfred and Clarence. Edward and Harry are both connected with the Wardrobe Company. Alfred is a student of Purdue University. He is preparing himself for a pharmacist. Clarence is in high school at this writing. They are all bright children and have promis- ing futures before them.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Auman is a member of the Masonic Order, Baldwin Commandery, No. 2, of the Knights Templar, also of the Independent
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Order of Odd Fellows. He takes considerable interest in lodge work, and he is also faithful in his attendance of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a member.
Mr. Auman and his family are held in high esteem by the people of Shel- byville, where they are regarded as hospitable, honorable and industrious.
THOMAS GARY GREEN, M. D.
Readers of American history meet with the name of Green and there is none prouder or more distinguished in our earlier annals. The family traces to John Green, a noted surgeon, who flourished at Salisbury, England, early in the eighteenth century. Fourth in descent from him was another John Green, who became the father of as fine a line of sons as ever honored parents since the days of Gracchi. Their names were Nathaniel, Zachariah. Daniel, Sam- uel, William, John and Thomas. They were all reared in Virginia and the older ones were playmates of George Washington during their boyhood. Nathaniel, the eldest, became the famous general of the Revolution, and was one of the intimate friends of the "Father of his Country." during the days that tried men's souls. Thomas. the youngest son, though less distinguished, was also a famous character during the troublous era which led to American independ- ence. He acted as spy for the commander-in-chief and rendered valuable ser- vice for the patriotic army at various periods during the dark days of that struggle. Owing to a close resemblance to a British officer of that name, he was often dubbed "General McDonald," the nickname having been conferred by General Francis Marion, the celebrated "Swamp Fox" of the Carolinas. By palming himself off as General McDonald at the house of an old Tory he suc- ceeded in securing a horse, which, under the name of "Selim," afterward be- came known throughout the army of the South. He left a son, who, in after life became widely known as 'Squire Lott Green, from whom descended the Indiana branch of the family. He married Anna Cooper, by whom he had eight children, five sons and three daughters, whose names are thus recorded : . James W., William F., Samuel, John C., Eliza G., Perry, Amanda G. and Anna. The last named, who married a brother of the late Governor Allen G. Porter, is the only one now living, and she resides at Pasadena, California. Doctor James W. Green, the eldest son, married Mary J. Gowdy, and four of their children are now living. Doctor John D. Green, the eldest, is a resident of Manilla. Rush county, Indiana. Doctor William F. Green is a citizen of In- dianapolis. Nellie is the wife of Conrad Schroeder, and lives in Shelbyville.
Thomas Gary Green, third in number of the living children. was born at Arlington, Rush county, Indiana, April 7. 1865. After attending the graded
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schools for some years he finished his academical studies in Graham Academy at Rushville, where he was graduated when eighteen years of age. He then took a course in the Conservatory of Music at Columbus, Indiana, where he taught the piano until the completion of his, twenty-first year. Meantime he had begun the study of medicine under his father, and so continued for three years after his father's removal to Shelbyville. Entering Louisville Medical College he secured a degree from that institution and then took a post-graduate course in the Kentucky School of Medicine.
Returning to Shelbyville he began active practice, which was suspended temporarily while he attended a course of lectures for a year at the Cincinnati Medical College. He is also a graduate of the State Board of Dental Surgery of Ohio, at Cincinnati. After finishing his studies in these various seats of learning he resumed practice at Shelbyville and has since prosecuted his pro- fession with steadfast earnestness and increasing success. He carries on a gen- eral practice in a manner that has won for him wide popularity. He is a good physician descended from a line of physicians, and enjoys high standing in the professional as well as the social and business world. He is a contributor to medical publications, among his latest articles to attract general attention was his article on the "Successful Medical Treament of Acute Appendicitis," which appeared in the March ( 1909) number of the "Monthly Cyclopedia." a medical publication of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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