USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 48
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On July 22, 1895. as already indicated. Mr. Root left the scene of his
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early successes in the manufacturing world and came to Shelbyville. Indiana. where he took the position of superintendent with the Hodell Furniture Com- pany. Upon the death of M. B. Robbins in 1898. Mr. Root was made general manager and superintendent, which position he still holds, giving his usual satisfaction. Before the death of Mr. Robbins, the directors of this concern. in recognition of the services of Mr. Root, each gave him a certain portion of stock and made him a director in the company. In 1892 he purchased a half interest in the Blanchard-Hamilton Furniture Company. After retaining this interest he disposed of the same in 1906. In that year he and Julius Joseph and Jonas Joseph started the Root Furniture Company, manufacturing cheap and medium side-boards.
On November 25. 1886. Mr. Root's domestic life began when he married Nellie Stiles, of Grand Rapids. Michigan. She is the representative of a fine eld family of that city. To this union one son. Louis I. Root. has been born. Following in the footsteps of his father, he is in the furniture business, and gives every indication of a successful future. Mr. Root has a beautiful. mod- ern and nicely furnished residence, everything about which is in exquisite taste, and pervading it is an air of refinement and cheer. In his fraternal relations Mr. Root is a Mason, having taken every degree in the same, both in the Scottish and York Rites, except the thirty-third degree. He and his wife both belong to the Order of Eastern Star. Mr. Root is a man of attractive personal appearance, genial in manners, courteous, and a pleasant man to know, conse- quently he is popular with all classes.
HARRY H. WHITCOMB.
The family of this name has been identified with Shelby county for over sixty years and have done their full share in the public progress and develop- ment. Old-timers will recall Rev. David Whitcomb, who became widely known as a minister of the Gospel of unusual force and ability. He followed this worthy calling for many years in Ohio during the second quarter of the last century. but failing health finally led him to abandon the pulpit. He mar- ried Magdalene F. Welton, and in 1848 came to Shelby county. settling on a farm three miles east of Shelbyville. Harry H. Whitcomb. his son, was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 11. 1844. and was but four years old when the change of residence was made to Shelby county. After arriving in this county the father followed farming until 1866, when his death occurred. During the eighteen years of his residence in Shelby county, he preached frequently and enjoyed an extensive acquaintance throughout Eastern Indiana. He was a . good business man. possessed of excellent judgment as to values and before
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his death had accumulated a comfortable fortune, consisting of four hundred acres of land and other property. Harry Whitcomb attended the county schools in his neighborhood and was a pupil for some time in Shelbyville. Later he entered Asbury ( new DePauw) University, and after a full course obtained his degree in 1860. After leaving college he studied law in the office of Davis & Wright. practiced his profession for a few years and then entered the inter- nal revenue service as gauger. He retained this position for eleven years. and during that time built up a large and lucrative insurance and loan business, being the pioneer in that line at Shelbyville. After Cleve- land's election in 1884 Mr. Whitcomb resigned his position in the revenue service and engaged in manufacturing, as a member of the Conrey-Birely Table Company, now known as the Davis-Birely Table Company. Mr. Whit- comb is secretary and treasurer of the corporation which from small begin- nings has grown into one of Shelbyville's most prosperous industries. Mr. Whitcomb is a member of the Masonic Lodge and Baldwin Commandery. No. 22, Knights Templar. Personally Mr. Whitcomb is a gentleman of quiet de- meanor and even temper, denoting habitual self-possession. He is literary in his tastes, has read much and makes excellent company for those who enjoy his intimacy. Few men are so well informed as to current events of importance or concerning all those things which go to make up a liberal education.
February, 1879. Mr. Whitcomb married Martha V., daughter of John B. and Sarah ( Hays) Johnson, of Morristown. in this county. To them three children have been born, of whom two died in infancy. The survivor is David Hays Whitcomb, who was born at Shelbyville. June 28. 1887. After attending the city schools he entered DePauw University and was graduated with the class of June. 1909.
FRANK DOBLE.
During the days of the Civil war and for many years after there was no better known man than Henry Doble. His employments were many. his tal- ents versatile and there never was a finer mixer in all the tide of time. When eighteen years old. he sat in the cab as an engineer of the first train ever pulled . through Shelbyville. In 1860 he was elected Sheriff, and his term was one of the most responsible ever devolving upon a peace officer, as the Civil war was raging. passions ran high and the bad blood between factions often brought on collisions, especially at the polls and where large crowds were assembled. Mr. Doble had a wonderful suave address and often calmed disturbances by a few bland words or a friendly smile. His father. William .\. Doble, established the first tavern at what became to be known as Dobletown, in Moral township. There was also the usual grist and sawmill. still and store at this embryonic
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city, which started out to be a great place. but was completely squelched by the coming of the first railroad. Henry Doble died in 1899, when sixty-seven years old. He married Mary A. Tull. by whom he had two children, Addie and Frank, the former lives with her widowed mether at 136 West Mechanic street.
Frank Doble, the only son, was born at Shelbyville. Indiana, July 5, 1860, and grew up with the usual experiences of the average boy of that period. His first venture into the business world was in 1879, as clerk in the Doble & Wil- liams', afterwards Doble & DePrez and J. G. DePrez Company's hardware store, where he remained for eighteen years. In all, he put in twenty-seven yeas in various city stores, but finally decided to branch out for himself, and in 1901 became a partner in with H. B. Griffey in the hardware store which they have since conducted with success. The firm enjoys a flourishing business, as both of the members are hustlers and popular with their trade. Mr. Doble has inherited much of the geniality of his lamented father, and has an irre- sistible way of converting all he meets into friends. Mr. Doble is a member of the Masonic Order of high standing, and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, and a director in the Shelby Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Doble married Emma Alexander, long one of the favorites in Shelby- ville society. She was born when the family lived in Montgomery county, and lost her father when three years old. Later her mother. Mrs. Sarah Alexander, removed to Shelbyville, where their home became headquarters for the city's best people. Mr. and Mrs. Doble were married at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
GEORGE HAEHL.
The subject of this biographical review, although of the second genera- tion of Germans in this country, has many of the sterling traits and praise- worthy characteristics of the people of that e nuntry who have done so much toward the development of Shelby county; in fact the major portion of the United States. George Haehl was born in Union township, Shelby county. Indiana. June 6, 1849. the son of John Henry and Mary C. ( Zeisz ) Hlaell. John Henry Haell was born in Bavaria, Germany. December 4. 1820. He came to America and prospered, ending his days in Shelby county, on Sep- tember 3. 1855. His wife was born in Rheinpfalz, Byron, Germany. No- vember 27, 1826, and died in Shelby county, June 28. 1907. The subject's father landed in New Orleans upon his arrival in the United States. He was yet a young man. Not taking a fancy to the South, he ascended the Missis- sippi and Ohie rivers to Cincinnati, and later came to Shelby county. He
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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE HAEHL.
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was accompanied by his parents, and they located just south of the German church in U'nion township, his father purchasing wild land there and at once set about making improvements, developing the same into a good farm. John Henry Haehl died when our subject was only six years old, consequently he does not know much of his father; but he was a prosperous and hard-work- ing farmer, devoting all his time to his home and family. He was a member of the German Protestant church of Union township. a Democrat in politics but not an office seeker. The subject's mother came to this country when she was a girl. with her parents who located in Shelby county. Indiana, when she was about six years old. John Henry Hach! and Mary C. Zeisz were married in this county, and five children were born to them as follows: the first child died in infancy: Rosina married Jacob Theobald: George, of this review : John, deceased : Caroline, who married a Mr. Witz.
George Haehl received his education in the common schools of Shelby county, and spent his youth at home working on the farm. When he reached manhood he married Katherine Kuhn, on December 7. 1872: she was born in Shelby county, May 1. 1856. the daughter of Andrew and Anna Mary ( Theobald) Kuhn. Andrew Kuhn was born in Germany. August 20. 1807, and died in Shelby county, Indiana, in 1870; his wife was also born in Ger- many. August 3. 1808, and died in 1890. They came to the United States in an old-fashioned sailing vessel about sixty-one years ago. Andrew Kuhn was one of the prominent members of the Kuhn family in this country.
Eleven children have been born to the subject and wife as follows: Pauline Otilda, born December 12, 1873. married Jacob Gayheimer, living in Union township, and they are the parents of one child. Della Irene : Henry A .. born July 26, 1874. married Laura John : they are living in Union town- ship, and are the parents of two children. Clark Henry and George Wallace. George W. was born April 4. 1876: Flora Catherine, born April 21. 1878. married Albert Callahan, of Union township, and they are the parents of one child, Freda Fay: John R., born September 23, 1879. married Nora Calla- han. of Union township. and they are the parents of two children, Elma Irene and Mary Frances: Ida, born October 6. 1887. married Arkas Wag- oner : they live in Rush county and are the parents of one child. Fra Revere: Ella C. was born January 5. 1874; Laura L. was born July 13, 1885. and · married Julius Theobald: they live in Rush county, and are the parents of two children, Fern Elizabeth and Mabel Catherine: Oscar P., born De- cember 31, 1887, is deceased; Robert Daniel. born November 28, 1889, is living at home: Walter, born October 16, 1894. is also a member of the fam- ily circle. This large family has always been a harmonious and happy one. and these children are fairly well educated and doing well.
George Haehl has carried on general farming practically all his life. His highly improved farm consists of about three hundred and sixty acres, well 29
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stocked with various kinds of good live stock, and the buildings on the place show that it is a modern twentieth century farm in every particular. He has been a good manager and reaped abundant success, being now regarded as one of Shelby county's most substantial citizens. His fine home is often the gathering place for the numerous friends of the family.
Mr. Hachl is a Democrat, but not a public man, preferring to give all his attention to his farm. He and his wife are members of the German Protes- tant church of Union township. being liberal supporters of the same. By reason of their courtesy. industry and hospitality the Hlachl family holds high rank among the citizens of Shelby county.
COSSAIRT & SONS.
Simon Peter Cossairt, senior member of the firm of Cossairt & Sons, flor- ists, was born in Howard county, Missouri, August 14, 1846. the only child of Henry and Mary ( Krutz) Cossairt. He was reared in his native state, educated in the common scho ds and spent his early life on a farm, which had a decided influence in inducing him to select agriculture for his vocation. After following his chosen calling in Missouri until eighteen years of age he went to Switzerland county. Indiana, where he engaged in truck and market garden- ing, which he followed with encouraging results until his removal in 1890. to Shelbyville, since which time he has devoted his attention to floriculture in this city and built up a business second in magnitude and importance to that of few florists in the state. "The River Dale Green House." the name by which his establishment is known, is the largest and best equipped structure of the kind in the city. and splendidly adapted to the purpose it is intended to subserve. being constructed on the latest scientific principles and containing an area of seven thousand square feet. Mr. Cossairt has made a critical study of the fas- cinating pursuit in which he is engaged, and is familiar with its every detail, being an accomplished florist. also a careful and methodical business man. As- sociated with him are his sons, William H. and Charles Frederick. the firm thus constituted being up-to-date in all matters relating to floriculture, ready to extend every courtesy to patrons and visitors and to fill all orders and make deliveries with promptness and dispatch. In addition to the large and grow- ing local business which they command. they have quite an extensive patronage in other places, which they supply by shipment. the demand for flowers, plants, bulbs, etc., being all they can meet, and indicating the strong hold which the firm has on the confidence of the public.
Mr. Cossairt was married in Switzerland county. Indiana, October 9, 1870, to Elizabeth Louise Deppe, who was born September 25. 1852, in Han-
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over. Germany, being an only child. Her father died when she was quite young, and her mother. Charlotte Deppe, subsequently came to the United States and became the wife of a Mr. Schmid. to whom she bore one child. Rosella, who married George Given, of Florence, Indiana. William H. was born May 7. 1872. in Gallatin county, Kentucky, educated at Vevay. Indiana, and the Indianapolis Business College, and for some years has been his father's business partner. Charles Frederick was born January 1. 1891, and became a member of the firm in 1909. Their present enterprise is the outgrowth of the vegetable and truck garden in which they engaged several years ago, near Shelbyville, in conncetion with which they subsequently started in a modest way the growing of flowers. This proving successful beyond their expecta- tions, they finally discontinued gardening to devote their entire attention to floriculture. the result being the present large and flourishing establishment uin- der the firm name of Cossairt & Sons, which is now doing a business second to that of few firms of the kind in Indiana. William H. Cossairt, like his father, is a skillful florist and a successful business man.
Mary L., the second of the family, was born May 21, 1875, and is now the widow of William Edward Newton, of Indianapolis, and the mother of one child. Norman, whose birth occurred July 7. 1901. Mr. Newton died in the year 1905. Margaret. born July 28. 1885. was educated in the Shelby- ville schools and assists her father and brother in the greenhouse. being an accomplished florist and familiar with the business department : Grace, the third daughter. was born April 2, 1888, and departed this life on the 4th day of October, 1894: Charles Frederick is the youngest of the family.
Mr. Cossairt manifests a lively interest in whatever tends to the material advancement of his city and the benefit of the people. Himself and family are regular attendants of the Presbyterian church of Shelbyville. and active par- ticipants in the various lines of religious and benevolent work under the au- spices of the organization.
OTTO LORENZO COYLE.
Deputy Clerk of Shelby Circuit Court Otto L. Coyle is a native of In- diana, and one of the four surviving children of Thomas J. and Jessie ( Green) Coyle, both parents born in Shelby county, and for some time past living retired lives. The subject, whose birth occurred November 11. 1878. in Shelby coun- ty, spent his early life on the home farm and after finishing the common school course entered the township high school. from which he was graduated in 1896. Later he took a scientific course in the Central Normal College. at Danville. from which in 1899 he received the degree of Bachelor of Science, following which he added to his scholastic knowledge by doing post-graduate
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work in the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso, where he completed the course in the year 1900. One year prior to the latter date he engaged in teaching and for a period of four years devoted his attention to educational work in the common schools, and for six years was principal of the township high school. achieving signal success and much more than local repute in the latter position.
In 1906 Mr. Coyle severed his connection with teaching to become Deputy Clerk of the Shelby Circuit Court, a position which he still worthily holds. Since entering the Clerk's office he has become familiar with its every detail and it is admitted by the people irrespective of political alignment that the county has never been served in this capacity by a more capable or accomplished man. By diligent attention to his business interests, official and otherwise. he has been quite successful financially, having accumulated a comfortable com- petency, including several houses and lots in Shelbyville, a fine farm of eighty acres, six miles north. These, with his valuable personal property and private capital, place him in independent circumstances, and make him one of the well- to-do men of the community.
Mr. Coyle's domestic life began on the 6th of October, 1904, at which time he was married to Fanny O. Bassett, the third of a family of two sons and four daughters, whose parents, John R. and Elizabeth ( Thompson) Bas- sett, were among the well known and highly esteemed residents of Shelby coun- ty. Mrs. Coyle was educated in the public schools, and has been a true help- meet to her husband, assisting him in his various enterprises, encouraging him in his undertakings and to her sane counsel and advice he is indebted for no small share of the success with which his efforts have been crowned.
Mr. Coyle is a public spirited man in all the term implies, and possesses to a marked degree the confidence of the people of Shelby county, as the vari- ous positions to which he has been chosen abundantly attest. For four years he has held the responsible office of secretary and chairman of the Farmers' Agricultural Institute of the county and for three years has served as general superintendent of the Shelby County Fair Association, in both of which capa- cities he displays executive ability of a high order and a familiarity with or- ganization which bespeaks his retention in these positions as long as he sees fit to accept them. He is an enthusiastic member of the Pythian Brotherhood. · having filled all the chairs in Chillon Lodge. No. 129. in which he now holds the title of past chancellor. and is also a member of Lodge No. 457. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. of Shelbyville. For several years he has served on the Township Board of Education, and in this capacity has labored un- tiringly to advance the interests of the schools and bring them up to the high standard of excellence for which they are now noted. Mr. Coyle is an accom- plished musician, and for four years has been a member of the city band. also of the orchestra, which has a wide reputation among the leading organizations
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of the kind in this part of the state. Personally he is a most companionable gentleman and easy in manner. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Democratic party, of which he has long been one of the in- fluential factors of the vicinity, and having been reared by a pions mother of the Baptist faith, he very naturally inclues to the teachings of that church.
JOHN ALEXANDER TINDALL.
The name of Tindall has been familiar in Shelby county from an early period. and through the first representatives was connected with all the strug- gles of the pioneer period. Isaac Neal Tindall. a native of Delaware, started west when the tide of emigration was flowing strong towards the Northwest Territory, but made his first settlement in the state of Kentucky. Later he crossed into Indiana with his family, struck the trail to Shelby county, and finally located on a farm of eighty acres in Washington township. A hard worker and a man of much energy, he soon made himself felt as a farmer. gradually increasing his land holdings as his affairs prospered. He established a tannery on his place, which became one of the pioneer landmarks and was an industry of great value to his neighbors as well as to the owner. Alexander C. Tindall, one of his sons, served three years as a Union soldier during the Civil war and made a good record. being wounded in the hand in one of the general engagements in which his command participated. George W. Tindall, another son, was born in Delaware, November 29. 1826, and was still a youth when his parents located in Shelby county. He combined the business of farming and tanning after he grew up. but occasionally filled a place in a blacksmith shop when work was needed in that line. October 3. 1849. he married Sarah McCann, and the event was typical of the primitive methods of that period, the bride and groom riding on the same horse to the residence of 'Squire Sex- tion, who performed the ceremony without any unusual display, and sent the couple away happy and contented. Sarah was a daughter of Joseph McCann, a native of Kentucky, who located in Shelby county and entered land in what is now Shelby township. He died when Mrs. Tindall was a small child. and she was reared by relatives. She was born December 8. 1833. and died De- cember 9. 1905. To George W. and Sarah ( McCann ) Tindall three children were born. Lonisa S., wife of Martin D. Miller. is a resident of Shelbyville : Isaac N., who graduated as a physician at the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, died February 5. 1882.
John A. Tindall. the only surviving son, was born in Shelby township, Shelby county. Indiana. April 18. 1858. After graduating from the Shelby- ville high school in 1876. he entered Ann Arbor ( Michigan) University, and
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obtained a degree from that institution in the class of 18-8. Entering imme- diately upon the practice of law he has ever since been one of the best and busiest lawyers of the city, his business increasing with the years until he is recognized as one of the leading members of the Shelby County Bar. pains- taking and careful in the preparation of his cases, diligent in the pursuit of evidence and watchful of his clients' interests. Mr. Tindall ranks among the best of the bar in all the essentials of an office as well as a trial lawyer. In 1880 he was appointed deputy-prosecutor for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. and served a term of two years with entire acceptibility to his principal. Mr. Tindall makes a specialty of the settlement of estates, adjusting controversies involving large properties, and being an excellent business man, his advice is eagerly sought and always valued. At the organization of the Citizens' Gas Company, he became one of the directors and was elected president, in which positions he was of great aid to the association. His father's help was fre- quently solicited at the various crises through which the company went. He joined with six other prominent citizens in a pledge of one hundred thousand dollars in support of the company, which financial aid carried it to successful completion and established a firm footing. The fine Italian hand of John Tindall was seen through all these transactions, and to his skill, legal assistance and business sense the final victory was largely due.
Mr. Tindall is a wealthy land owner, his holdings amounting to five him- dred acres south and east of the city. He and his sister were the only heirs tu the estate of their father. who died December 5. 1903.
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