USA > Indiana > Encyclopedia of biography of Indiana > Part 40
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spective interests in the business. Rea- lizing this, Daniel took a step as char- acteristic as it was generous; he relin- quished to his father his share in the en-
terprise, entirely without financial con- sideration, and cheerfully set out to earn his livelihood on new lines. His next venture was the daguerreotype business, in pursuing which he journeyed on foot from one to another of the towns of In- diana. An unpleasant feature of this mode of life to the home-loving young man was the fact that it took him so much away from Greensburg; and he would sometimes walk a very long dis- tance rather than spend the night under an unfamiliar roof. Despite his tendency to look on the bright side of things, his hair grew gray very early in life, which condition he humorously asserted was the result of his struggles to convince his daguerreotype subjects of the truthful- ness of their portraits. At length his father decided to retire from active life, and Daniel, together with his brother, John H. Stewart, purchased the drug business and carried it on until 1863, when he left Greensburg and established a home of his own at Indianapolis. Here he entered into a partnership with Steph- en W. Morgan, and together they bought the drug business of William Hannaman, located at 40 East Washington street. This pharmacy throve under the new management. It had formerly supplied both the wholesale and retail demands, and the same policy was continued for a time by Mr. Stewart and his partner. Eventually, however, the business be- came so large that it was decided to aban- don the retail side of it and supply only the wholesale trade. In 1881 the concern
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was removed to 42 to 50 South Meridian street; and in 1883 Mr. Stewart bought out the interest of his partner, conduct- ing the business alone during the re- mainder of his life. In the autumn of 1890, at Washington, D. C., Mr. Stewart was made president of the National Wholesale Druggists' Association. His thorough knowledge of the business, ac- quired during the half a century he had devoted to it, his unswerving rectitude of principle, and a peculiarly happy faculty of dealing with men, all united to qualify him for this position. Politically Mr. Stewart was a loyal Republican; and his adherence to the principles of that party strongly evidenced his decision of char- acter. Belonging as he did to a family distinguished in politics, in which the Democratic element greatly predomi- nated, and although his deeply affection- ate and sympathetic nature made him acutely sensible to all legitimate claims of kinship; yet in matters affecting his Nation's welfare he was always frank and fervent in the defense of his convictions. Mr. Stewart belonged to the Meridian Street Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which he was for many years prominent as a member of its official board. His influence was much sought and prized in both the religious and sec- ular communities, the gentle persuasive- ness of this peace-loving man, making him an adept in harmonizing discordant elements. Mr. Stewart was married on May 18, 1858, to Miss Martha Tarkington, daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Tar-
kington, of Greensburg. Two children were born to them, now Mrs. John New- man Carey and Mrs. William Scott. Mr. Stewart's devotion to his immediate fam- ily, and to the little ones who came to bless his daughters' homes, was prover- bial; and these tender attractions often effectually rivalled the demands of busi- ness upon his time. Indeed, welcome and valued as his presence was in many . circles, it was in the domestic realm that the loveliness of his nature reached its most perfect flower; and his home was noted for that best of hospitality where convention gives place to unaffected gen- iality and comradeship. Mr. Stewart's death occurred February 25, 1892; but the memory of his sweet personality and blameless life exists as a potent influence to the many who were blessed with the right to call him friend.
HIRAM P. WASSON.
Hiram Passmore Wasson was born in Cecil county, Maryland, June 18, 1845, the son of William P. and Anna (Graham) Wasson. William P. Wasson, though a native of the State of Delaware, was reared in Maryland, to which State his parents removed when he was quite young. He was a resident of that State until 1847, when he removed to Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania. In 1867 he came to Indianapolis, where he remained until his death in 1890. The Wassons in America are of English and Scotch ori-
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gin. The paternal grandfather of Hiram P. came from England and settled in Delaware during the colonial period. His mother, Anna Graham, was born in Mary- land of Scotch-Irish parentage. Her father, Peter Graham, a graduate of the College of Dublin, came to America dur- ing the Revolutionary War and settled in Delaware. Her mother, whose maiden name was Anna Moody, was born in Dela- ware. Hiram P. received a common school education in the schools of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania. When he was fourteen years old he secured em- ployment in a country store at Safe Har- bor in Lancaster county. He remained there until 1865, when he decided to try his fortune in the West. Coming to In- dianapolis he secured a position as clerk and "general utility boy" with the dry goods house of L. H. Tyler & Co., which was known as the "Bee Hive." Here, be- sides helping in the domestic department, lie swept the store, washed windows, car- ried bundles, etc. Though with his for- mer experience he was capable of a bet- ter position, yet this work he was obliged to do in order to hold his situation. A few months later his willingness and abil- ity were recognized and he was installed as a regular salesman. He slept in the store the first two years in order to save the money required for room-rent. Dur- ing that time a "shuck mattress" on a counter was his bed. While staying in the store at night he studied book-keep- ing. A treatise on book-keeping for a text book, and an occasional demonstration
from the book-keeper of the store were his only instructors. Two years after en- tering the store he was installed as book- keeper, which position he held for one year. He then asked to be relieved from this occupation so that he could enter the sales department again, the office work not being active enough for him. He was given a department as manager and salesman, and thereafter filled almost every position of importance in the house, until 1874, when he became one of the members of the firm. The concern moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1880; remaining there three years, he sold out to his partners and returned to Indian- apolis in 1883. His next business venture was the founding of the dry-goods house of H. P. Wasson & Co., which has had a successful career from the start, and is to-day recognized as one of the leading dry-goods bouses in the city and State. This concern-of which Mr. Wasson is the sole proprietor, the firm name being only nominal-began business in a modest way, occupying but two floors at No. 12 and 14 West Washington street. As their trade increased and departments were added, additional space was re- quired from time to time, until they now occupy the entire five story building, with an annex on the west, and a large stor- age ware-house in the rear. The business of the house is a general department store, consisting of thirty-two distinct de- partments. A leading business man of Indianapolis who has known Mr. Wasson intimately during his entire business ca-
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reer, in commenting on his success as a merchant, expressed himself as follows: "Time was when the favors of commerce in merchandising of any kind were so redundant in this new continent, that all the merchant had to do in order to grow rich, was to load his counters and shelves, and the public, unsolicited, did the rest. But the time now is, when he who wins publie favor in the marts of trade, must measure arms in the arena of fierce com- petition with the ablest antagonists, and in such a severe test as makes the result but the survival of the fittest. And so it may be truly said that the highest sue- cess in either the leading trades or manu- factures exacts substantially the same qualities and gifts requisite to achieve- ment in the professions. There can be no doubt in the mind of any one acquainted with Mr. H. P. Wasson, that had he chosen the profession of law or politics, his rank therein would have been as great as that attained in the present field. Mr. Wasson's resources were tested, and his sterling qualities developed by an almost unparalleled succession of misfortunes in the form of repeated conflagrations, which drove him from place to place in the city, and which seemed enough to ex- tinguish hope in the most dauntless. But again and again his establishments rose Phoenix-like from their ashes, each one in turn a little more commodious than its predecessor, until he reached the great emporium over which he presides to-day." One of the leading bankers and financiers
of the State says of Mr. Wasson: "He is an energetic business man with strong resolutions and able to execute them; quick in his perception and ready to seize an opportunity when presented, he is of the stock generals are made of. While being conservative he is aggres- sive, qualities rarely found together in one man. He is a good financier, and pos- sesses executive ability of a high order." Mr. Wasson has given very little time to outside enterprises, preferring to give his best energies to his chosen calling of merchant, the exceptions being his serv- ices as director of the Indiana National Bank, and vice-president of the Commer- cial Club. From 1886 to 1891, he was president of the MeGillen Dry Goods Company of Cleveland, Ohio, wholesale and retail dealers in dry goods. In 1873 Mr. Wasson married Miss Ada Morris, daughter of Henry Morris of Charlottes- ville, Indiana. To them have been born four children; Robert G., who died at the age of six years. Those living are Grace, Fred W., and Hiram Kennard. Though a staunch Republican, Mr. Wasson has never been a candidate for any political office, preferring to be a worker in the ranks, and when the "sinews of war" are needed, he can always be depended upon to do his share. He is enterprising and publie spirited, always being interested in whatever tends to the advancement of the material and moral interests of the city and the people among whom he has at- tained success in business.
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HORACE E. KINNEY.
Through the joint ancestral channels, Horace Edgar Kinney draws a rich herit- . age-the sturdy character and virile con- stitution which marked his long-lived paternal progenitors, and that savor of greatness which his mother, as direct descendant of Andrew Jackson, trans- mits to him. His great-grandfather, Ab- raham Kinney, was Welsh by birth, but came to America while very young, first settling in New Jersey, where he met and married Rachel Holmes, and afterwards removing to Virginia, where his son, John Kinney, was born on April 4, 1777. Al- though subjected to the hardships of a soldier's life in the war of the Revolution, Abraham Kinney lived to the venerable age of one hundred and four years. John Kinney left his early home to found one for himself in Mercer county, Virginia, where he married Rhosana Ritter in 1820. Later he removed to Kentucky, and still later to Indiana. Like his father, John Kinney was an active participant in war- fare-the struggle of 1812 and the Indian conflicts of Kentucky and Indiana, in which latter wars he did service under the command of General Harrison. He died in 1860. His son, Lazarus Kinney, married Maria Jackson, above referred to as a descendant of Andrew Jackson, and who was a native of Jamestown, North Carolina, and to them was born, on Sep- tember 6, 1858, at Stilesville, Hendricks county, Indiana, the subject of this sketch. Horace E. Kinney obtained his
early education in the common schools of Stilesville; but at the tender age of ten years he left home and pluckily entered upon the business career which has been marked throughout its course by perse- vering effort and steady advancement. His first situation was that of telegraph operator in the office of the Louisville, New Albany and Chicago railroad. Then he obtained employment on the Indian- apolis, Bloomington and Western rail- road and on the Vandalia line. This po- sition he quitted to associate himself with the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany in Chicago, Springfield and Indian- apolis, which led finally to his attaining the managership of the Postal Telegraph and Cable Company's office at Indian- apolis. In 1885 he abandoned his former line of occupation in favor of the grain and commission business, which he en- tered in Indianapolis, becoming a member of the Board of Trade. He was engaged upon the governing board for nine years, until, in 1896, he was made its vice-presi- dent. This honor led, in the following year, to the greater one of his election as president of the Board of Trade. One year of service 'in this capacity was fol- lowed by his re-election to the governing board. His broad understanding and clear judgment in business matters have brought Mr. Kinney in recent years to a very prominent place in the commercial world. He has earned the reputation of being eminently practical in business af- fairs. In politics his sympathies and in- fluence are with the Republicans; but he
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has never been an office-seeker, nor a holder of public office. On April 13, 1882, Mr. Kinney married Laura Jean Robards, whose father, William Robards, de- ceased, was a resident of Stilesville, and two daughters have been born to them. The eldest, Hazel Augusta, is now four- teen years of age and attends the high school of Indianapolis. Her sister, Zuleme Ethel, is a child of eight years. Mr. Kinney is an abundant contributor to the life of clubs and lodges. Both the Columbia and Marion clubs have been favored with his membership, he having been one of the first vice-presidents of the latter. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree; also a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He receives a genial welcome in public or in daily contact with those who know him, but no greater degree of welcome can be ac- corded him than that met with in the family circle of his own home.
WILLIAM K. BELLIS.
William K. Bellis was born in Rich- mond, Wayne county, Indiana, August 5, 1854. He is the son of Samuel Bellis, who came to this country from Yorkshire, England. Beginning as a solicitor in the life insurance business, Samuel Bellis very soon attained to the position of gen- eral manager. He evinced a marked fit- ness for this business, and has occupied responsible positions with leading com- panies for many years. He is still en-
gaged in this business, and it may be stated that there is no man in the State that possesses a more thorough knowl- edge of that special line of work. Mr. Bellis has two children, a daughter and a son, the latter the subject of this sketch. William K. Bellis inherited much of the steady persistence which has made his father's life a success. He re- ceived a thorough education in the pub- lic schools of Richmond, following it with a complete collegiate course at Earlham College. After his graduation he entered upon his business career as a solicitor in the art department of D. Appleton & Co. He remained in that position for three years, doing a large amount of traveling and gaining that knowledge of human nature which forms such an excellent foundation for business life. The especial forte of Mr. Bellis has been in the organ- izing and promoting of large business en- terprises. August 5, 1884-his thirtieth birthday-he organized the Railroad Offi- cials' and Employes' Accident Associa- tion, and the Reserve Loan Life Insur- ance Company. Ile represented both of these companies as secretary and treas- urer, in which his duties were most ardu- ous and exacting. The former company alone, operating with one hundred and twenty-five different railroad systems, has issued over one hundred and forty thou- sand policies, and gives employment to about three hundred persons. Several minor business concerns in the city of In- dianapolis have been founded by Mr. Bel- lis, and his life is a busy one. He is
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president of the Martinsville Mineral Springs Hotel, popularly known as the Martinsville Sanitarium, located at Mar- tinsville, Indiana. Mr. Bellis takes a just pride in the success and standing this health resort has attained during the time he lias directed its business affairs. He is very public spirited and is a repre- sentative Republican. Everything which tends to the furtherance of the interests of that party, commands his attention and receives his aid. He is a member of the Columbia Club and the Commercial Club, and is deeply interested in the growth and improvement of his home city, Indianapolis, and of the State as well. Mr. Bellis resides in the former homestead of Senator McDonald on North Meridian street. On February 22, 1877, he was married to Miss Emma A. Brooks, daughter of John Brooks, capitalist and banker of Washington, Wayne county, Indiana.
HENRY S. CUNNINGHAM.
The value to any community of a pro- fessional man is not marked merely by his learning and skill, his proficiency in medical and surgical practice, but also by his character, both private and pro- fessional, his honorable adherence to medical ethics and his personal integrity and benevolence of purpose. When a physician combines these characteristics, it is with great pleasure that we record his life work, and such a man do we find in Dr. Henry Stephens Cunningham of
Indianapolis. He was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1839, and remained in his native county until eighteen years of age. Though left an orphan at an early age, he was deter- mined to educate himself. He took ad- vantage of every opportunity, and where none offered he created them, and is a self-made man in every particular. He has known the stern demands of poverty, but his honesty, goodness, energy and pluck have brought their rewards, which he and his family are now enjoying. He attended the public school, and when thirteen years of age entered the academy at Worthington, Pennsylvania, to study the higher branches. There lie remained until eighteen years of age, working his way, after which he entered a grammar school at New Haven, Connecticut, for a year. After this for a number of years, he taught school and worked at mechan- ics. In 1862 he began the study of medi- cine with Starling Loving, at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated from Starling College, June 30, 1865. He then came to Indiana and located at Warrington in Hancock county, but owing to ill health did not enter upon his practice until April, 1866. He remained at Warrington until the spring of 1869, when he located at Winchester, Randolph county, where he continued until the spring of 1871. From there he went to Montreal, Canada, and entered the Medical Department of the University Bishop College, where he graduated April 4, 1872, with the Cana- dian C. M., M. D. degree. In April of
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the following year he located at Indian- apolis, and from the first had a success- ful practice. For two years he was on the staff of Bobb's Dispensary in the ear- ly seventies, Prof. William B. Fletcher superintending. He is a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the province of Quebec. He was one of the charter members of the Marion County Medical Society, but is not an active member now. He was a member of the original Academy of Medicine during its existence. Dr. Cunningham is the author of "Lectures on Physiological Laws of Life and Hygiene," published in 1882, which was kindly received by the pro- fession and has had an extensive sale. He was physician to the German Protes- tant Orphan Home at Indianapolis, from October, 1887, to October, 1891, when he resigned and was regularly appointed as consulting physician, a position he still occupies. The Doctor is a member of the Western Association of Writers, and at the annual meeting in June, 1893, at Spring Park, Warsaw, Indiana, he read a paper before that body on "Man's Indi- viduality and Responsibility." He is a man of education, a ready writer, and is well known in the city as one of the lead- ing practitioners. He is also a member of the present executive board of West- ern Association of Writers. Socially he is a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F., A. O. of D., and Chosen Friends. He has served as president of the Board of Health of Indianapolis. The Doctor adheres to the platform of the
Democratic party. In the year 1864 he was married to Miss Emma Mills, a native of Pennsylvania, and three chil- dren have been born of this union: Anna R .; Ersom Mills, who is also a physician residing in Chicago, Illinois, and Lizzie, all of whom are married. The Doctor's second marriage occurred in 1876, to Miss Carrie Fairfield, a native of Syracuse, New York, and danghter of John D. and Charlotte (Knapp) Fairfield. She died December 18, 1887. Dr. Cunningham was again married to Miss Mamie Bohren at Indianapolis, Indiana, October 20, 1898.
BAYARD GRAY.
Bayard Gray, third son of Isaac P. Gray and Eliza (Jaqua) Gray, was born in New Madison, Darke county, Ohio, July 8, 1855. He was not quite three months old when his parents removed to Union City, Indiana. He attended the public schools of Union City and in the fall of 1872 entered the Indiana Univer- sity, attending one year. In the fall of 1873, he went to Asbury (now De Pauw) University, graduating as a bachelor of science in 1876. While in college he achieved note as a speaker. On his re- turn to Union City, he studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the Randolph county bar in 1878. He began the practice, but his natural bent was to the newspaper field. He_reported on the Union City Times and later on the Plain Dealer. September 3, 1881, he purchased
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The Sun, and located at Portland, Jay county, Indiana. In politics he has al- ways been an active Democrat. While at Union City, he came within five votes of being elected city clerk at a special elec- tion, there being at the time a normal Republican majority of 200. April 2, 1885, he was appointed postmaster at Portland, his commission being dated April 23, 1885. He sold The Sun De- cember 14, 1885. September 1, 1887, hav- ing been admitted to the Jay county bar, he formed a law partnership with Hon. Emerson E. McGriff, at Portland. Mr. McGriff had but recently concluded a term as prosecuting attorney of Ran- dolph county, Indiana. In the fall of 1888, Mr. Gray was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the Eleventh Indiana District and made a splendid showing. The convention was held at Huntington. His competitors were Hon. Harry B. Smith and Hon. Augustus N. Martin, the latter being nominated. Mr. Gray made a trip to the Pacific coast in 1889, seeking a location, but returned. In the summer of 1890, he located in Chicago. He attended the Chicago College of Law and graduated therefrom in the spring of 1891. He was admited to practice before the Supreme Court of Illinois. He served the follow- ing year as president of the law college Alumni Association. In Chicago, he formed a law partnership, under the firm name of Gray & Koerner, with Victor K. Koerner, a bright young lawyer and
graduate of the Chicago College of Law. Mr. Koerner came of a prominent Illinois family, hailing from Belleville. Later, Mr. Gray engaged in the printing busi- ness on South Dearborn street. He can- vassed the city under the auspices of the Democratic committee in the fall of 1892 and served as a delegate to local conven- tions. March 23, 1893, his father was ap- pointed United States Minister to Mexico by President Cleveland, and the subject of this sketch accompanied him to his post of duty, the minister and family ar- riving in the City of Mexico May 2, 1893. His father was received as minister by President Diaz, May 9, and the same day took charge of the legation. Bayard per- formed the duties of legation clerk until April 17, 1895, his father's death having occurred February 14, 1895. Resigning his position, Bayard returned to the States. He remained at Indianapolis some time, settling up some matters of business. In the fall of 1896, he can- vassed a part of the State, making about forty Democratic speeches. His forensic abilities were greatly appreciated and he was constantly in demand as a public speaker. November 7, 1896, he bought a half interest in the daily and weekly Crescent, of Frankfort, of which paper he is now the editor. His partner in the Crescent is Mr. B. H. Dorner, an experi- enced newspaper man. Mr. Gray was a delegate from Clinton county to the State Convention held in June, 1898. He is unmarried.
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