USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > Evansville and its men of mark > Part 26
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On the 24th of March the regiment arrived at Goldsboro' -- having marched five hundred miles in fifty-four days.
Marching thence to Raleigh, it remained there until the surrender of Johnson's army, and then started for Washington by way of Petersburg, Richmond and Fredericksburg.
They arrived at Washington on the 17th of May, and re- mained there until the 5th of June, when they were transferred to Louisville, Kentucky,
July 17th, twenty-six officers and four hundred and sixty men, comprising the regiment, were mustered out of the service They proceeded to Indianapolis, where they arived on the 18th and were publicly received at the Capitol grounds on the 21st, and addressed by Lieutenant Governor Baker, General Hovey, and others. A few days afterwards they were finally dis- charged and paid off, when they separated and started for their various homes, to engage in the pursuits of civil life.
During its term of service, the Twenty-fifth was engaged in eighteen battles and skirmishes, sustaining and aggregate loss of seventy-six killed, two hundred and fifty-five wounded, four missing, and seventeen captured ; making a total of three hun-
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dred and fifty-two. They marched on foot three thousand two hundred miles ; traveled by rail one thousand three hundred and fifty miles, and on transports, two thousand four hundred and thirty miles ; making, in all, six thousand nine hundred and eighty miles traveled.
At the original organization it numbered one thousand and forty-six, officers and men, and received at subsequent times six hundred and eighty-six recruits. Of these three hundred and ninety-one died of disease or wounds ; six hundred and ninety- five were discharged on account of wounds, disabilities, and and other causes ; thirty-three were transferred to other regi- ments, and one hundred and thirty-three deserted. Of the thirty-eight officers - field and line - mustered with the regi- ment, but one remained until the regiment was mustered out.
Colonel James S. Wright started out as Fist Lieutenant of Company E, and was promoted to Captain of Company H in 1862. In 1864 he was promoted to Major, and again to Lieu- tenant Colonel in 1865. He was afterwards commissioned as Colonel; but owing to the regiment being so much reduced, he could not be mustered. During his term of service he was ab- sent but twice ; once on business for the regiment, and once on a few days' leave. He endured every hardship and danger of the enlisted men, and participated in every engagement of the regiment, except that of Snake Creek Gap. He won the esteem of both officers and men, and the approbation of his friends and countrymen .- Roll of Honor.
James P. DeBruler, M. D.
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O the faithful, skilled, and successful labors of DR. DE BRULER, too high a tribute can not be paid. Over sixteen years of service in his high capacities as a practitioner, in this city and as many more in the town of Rockport, have given to him a fame of which any man might justly feel proud. His chief characteristics have been, through all these years,
JAMES P. DEBRULER, M. D.
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a love of his profession and an enthusiastic devotion to his du- ties. Day and night he has responded to the calls of distress ; and bringing to the sick bed the highest possible attainments of education and experience. Under his arduous labors his best friends have often feared that his own health might give way ; but owing to bis strict observance of sanitary laws and the ad- vantages of a strong constitution, he has been preserved for all the triumphs possible to be obtained in the highest walks of the medical profession.
Dr. James P. DeBruler was born in Orange County, North Carolina, September 21st, 1817. While an infant his parents emigrated to this State, and settled on White River, in Pike County. This whole section was at that time almost a trackless forest with here and there a rude cabin to mark the beginnings of civilization. Thus surrounded, as he was, his early life was subjected to all the inconveniences and to all the hardships of a pioneer's child. Under the protection of the broad forest trees, his lullaby at night was not the piano or guitar; but the growl of the bear, the howl of the wolf, or the hooting of the night- owl. But he enjoyed good digestion-had plenty to eat : hog and hominy, good milk, golden butter, etc.
To him early training was well nigh impossible. But though it was irregular and imperfect, he made some progress by the aid of a quick mind, in the way of acquiring knowledge. His little neighborhood was fortunate enough to secure as a teacher,a Scotchman, named Graham, who was admirably adapted to his calling. Under his guidance, our subject made rapid ad- vances in his studies, and to this day he has often expressed his indebtedness to the tact of his old and early Scotch teacher. He could only attend school in the Fall and Winter, and was com- pelled to work on his father's farm in the Summer-time.
At the age of eighteen years he began the study of medi- cine, and subsequently graduated in the Medical Department of the University at Louisville. He began his practical work in his profession at Rockport, where he remained nearly twenty years ; enjoying, perhaps, the largest practice that was ever confided to any physician of this section. The result has proven that he entered upon a larger sphere of usefulness. What he was, as a citizen of Rockport, he has been, in a larger and fuller
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measure, to Evansville-a thorough gentleman of high honor, integrity, and public virtue.
Dr. DeBruler has never been a politician, in any technical sense of the word; his interest in such matters has been only that which every good citizen feels in the management of affairs, In 1856 he was honored with a nomination as candidate for the Legislature, and was defeated. He profited so far by the lesson as to believe that the germ of what might become a formidable disease - the love of political position - had been eradicated. He has never lost a day in politics since. He has never held an office other than those connected with his profession. He was appointed-without any solicitation on his part-Postmaster of this city, by President Johnson, but resigned; having never taken charge of the office for an hour. He was appointed, by President Lincoln, Surgeon of the Marine Hospital in this city, and continued on duty there until it was changed into a mili- tary hospital. early in the war. He was its first surgeon, and acted in that capacity as long as there was any need of his ser- vices. Since that time his entire time and energies have been devoted to his large private practice. It is to him a labor of love : never neglecting his patients ; kind and considerate when called to consult with his professional brethren ; at home in the social circle, the laboratory, or by the sick bed-this city enjoys in Dr. DeBruler, an example of the value of a thoroughly educated, model American physician.
Dr. DeBruler was married to Miss Sallie E. Graham, daughter of the late Judge J. W. Graham, of Rockport Indi- ana, on the 2d of September, 1847, Their son, Mr. Claude G. DeBruler, is an editor and part proprietor of the Evansville Daily Journal.
Philip Heidelbach.
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MONG the merchants of Cincinnati who have reached out the land of enterprise to aid our city, is the sub- ject of this sketch. He was prominent among those who laid the foundations of the commercial importance of Cincinnati, after the early settlers had given place to others, and worked out the grand results that have been achieved ; and for more than thirty years of the well-known firm of Heidelbach, Sea- songood & Co. The following is taken from his biography, in " Cincinnati, Past and Present " :
" He is the son of David and Heffe Heidelbach, of Pfarr- weisach, Bavaria, where he was born June 25, 1814. His parents being poor, instead of obtaining an education at school, during boyhood, he was obliged to early inure himself to toil and ob- tain what practical lessons he could by contact with the world ; and the sequel proves him to have been a very apt scholar in that broad school. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to a butcher for two years. And after the expiration of that term he worked as a journeyman until he was of age, receiving about one hundred and fifty dollars per year, out of which he gave considerable toward the support of his parents, besides providing himself with clothing and paying other incidental expenses ; and although his knowledge of figures was extremely limited, he needed no mathematician to inform him that it would take a long time to become rich at that ratio. In the face of difficulties, he had managed to save sufficient to purchase a ticket to America, and he was not long in deciding to invest it in that way.
He landed in New York City without any means whatever ; but he soon found a friend who procured credit for him for
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eight dollars' worth of small goods with which to commence business as a peripatetic merchant. And although at first en- tirely ignorant of the English language, he succeeded so well at the end of three months, he had, from eight dollars worse than nothing, acquired, clear of all expenses, a capital of one hun- dred and fifty dollars. This was encouraging, and he began to think there was some propriety in calling this the " land of promise." He transmitted one-third of his cash to his parents, and investing the balance in goods he started for the great west- ern country, where he had an idea that a more profitable busi- ness could be done. Throughout the whole journey he made sales by day and generally stopped at farm houses at night; and, as the universal charge for supper, bed and breakfast was a "quarter," it may be surmised that our peddler made a profit- able overland trip. He arrived at Cincinnaati in the Spring of 1837; which contained, according to his own estimate, about forty thousand inhabitants, although many more were claimed for it. He commenced business so earnestly, and continued it so faithfully, within a radius of a hundred miles, embracing the adjoining counties of Union and Liberty, Indiana, that he con- stantly increased his stock ; and by the Fall of that year he had accumulated a handsome little capital of near two thousand dollars. It was about this time that he formed the acquaint- ance of another shrewd and industrious young man, who was engaged in the same business, and who possessed about the same amount of means : it was Jacob Seasongood. The two united their capital, enlarged their stock and increased their facilities, and from that time until December, 1839, did a very large and profitable business.
On the 1st of January, 1840, Mr. Heidelbach was married to Miss Hannah Lewser, with whom he had been acquainted in the Old Country. This estimable lady has proved a true help- meet all through his busy life.
Having considerable means at their command, and being somewhat weary of the laborious and unsettled life which ped- dling involved, they were disposed to purchase a stock of goods and endeavor to build up a city trade. They secured a busi- ness place on the corner of Front and Sycamore streets, and shortly after opened a retail clothing store. Here fortune fa-
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vored them to such an extent that at the end of two years they were able to open a dry-goods store on Main, one door below Pearl street, in addition to their old establishment. Mr. Hei- delbach's two brothers, Max and Simon, were admitted as part- ners about this time; which enabled the firm to conduct the business with a limited number of hired clerks, Mr. Simon Heidlebach died of cholera in 1849; and the surviving partners continued as usual until they removed all their business to a commodious building on Pearl street, where they remained until they established their house on the corner of Main and Third streets, doing an extensive business until 1860, when they erected the elegant and substantial block on the southwest corner of Vine and Third streets. Success still attended this energetic firm until 1868, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. From 1862 until the dissolution Mr. Heidelbach had been en- gaged in banking in company with Messrs. Seasongood, Espy, Max Heidelbach, and his son Louis, and has continued that in- terest until the present time, while Mr. Seasongood carries for- ward the original branch ; each party having demonstrated since the dissolution that all the elements of success unite in him.
Mr. Heidelbach has had six children, two of whom died in infancy. Henrietta is the wife of Mr. Simon Rindscopf, of New York City ; Louis is engaged in banking in company with his father, and is still unmarried ; Jennie, the late wife of Mr. Isaac Ickleheimer, of New York, died during the Summer of 1871, aged twenty-two; Ida is still at the parental home. Mrs. Heidelbach is living in comparative health
It will be observed that Mr. Heidelbach is an exception to the rule that first calls for disappointment and vexation on the part of almost all foreigners who come to our shores, because they do not know how to obviate it, being ignorant of the man- ners and customs of the people. He was successful from the start ; and it can not fail to be interesting to all ambitious young men to know what he regards as the key to his success. In the first place, he bestowed unremitting attention to his bus- iness ; secondly, he would never incur an expense he was not certain he could defray without embarrassment; thirdly, he practiced strict economy and straightforward dealing ; these, with a little common sense mixed with energy, he thinks will 39
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insure a moderate success to almost any one. And we may add that eminent practicability, more than depth of acquirement, has contributed to his success.
Apart from his business, Mr. Heidelbach is all that could be asked of a husband, parent, or citizen, and enters with sym- pathy, into every really philanthropic movement. He has never tried to " mak a noise in the world," but is simple and unobtrusive in his manner; and while his will is strong, it is mild in expression. Those who have done business with him for nearly forty years speak of his integrity as of the most un- compromising kind, and aver that no one can frequently come in contact with him without respecting him for his manly vir- tues. He is remarkably well preserved, and able to transact a large amount of fatiguing business."
His addition to this city has made his name familiar to our citizens.
Jacob Elsas.
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HIS successful Israelite is the son of Isaac end Rosa Elsas, who lived at a small village in the kingdom of Wuertenberg, near Stuttgart. Elsas was the name of the prov- ince in France that he had moved from, and was taken by him when the number of scriptural names among his people had become so numerous that the Government ordered the adoption of other family names. Jacob was born February 15, 1815 ; his parents were poor, and the schools in Germany were very infe- rior, the short time devoted to educational purposes resulted in a little practical benefit. He was the fourth child in a family of nine, who became fatherless when he was eleven years of age, and was then hired to a cattle dealer, at eighty cents per week, for which miserable pittance he was obliged to drive cattle half the night. It was, however, promptly given to his mother toward the support of the family, and when not kept at work too late, he would sometimes walk several miles after dark in order to buy bread for the family at a trifle cheaper rate than
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was practicable in their immediate neighborhood. He would perform these journeys merely by the force of his will, being all the time in the greatest fear of ghosts and hobgoblins and and other superstitions, in the stories of which the country abounded. We have been furnished with a running history of our subject, commencing about two years subsequent to the death of his father and ending several years after his arrival in this country. We quote as follows :
" When thirteen he was employed in making bobbin for an elder brother who was a weaver, and four of the family being employed in this way, they were able, in about two years, to open a little store for the sale of their goods, as well as to attend the markets at the different towns within a radius of fif- teen or twenty miles, it being the duty of Jacob to carry the pack. At the age of eighteen he and his brother engaged in the cattle business and continued in that until he was twenty, when he was fortunate enough to draw a ticket to be a soldier, but was more fortunate to be exempted, through the kind offices of the family physician. The savings of his nine years' labor, with the strictest economy, were about one hundred and fifty florins, or sixty dollars ; and with this he determined to go to America in company with twelve or fifteen other young men from his neighborhood. The party started for Havre, via Stras- burg and Paris ; but unfortunately for our subject, they delayed on the road for several weeks, and after being delayed in the harbor a number of days, he was refused a passage because he was unable to supply himself with sufficient crackers, potatoes and other provisions for the voyage. In this extremity he was obliged to part with his watch ; but a stormy voyage of seven weeks fully justified the ship-owners in their exactions, for with all their precautions they were placed on very short rations be- fore reaching New York. On landing in that city, in the fall of 1839, he only had two francs, or about forty certs in our money ; and as he was anxious to proceed to Philadelphia where he expected to find friends, he was compelled, much against his will, to part with a gold ring given him by his moth- er on leaving home. His friends in Philadelphia directed him to a Mr. Jacob Steiner, who frequently supplied new-comers with goods to peddle through the city and adjoining country.
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But having found the establishment, he was so excessively diffi_ dent that he could not go in and ask for credit, and so took up a position outside on the steps. He was, however, invited in by the proprietor after a time, who questioned him as to his wants or wishes ; and after due consideration of his case, advised him to take a box of jewelry and peddle in the city. Suffice it to say that he was industrious, and in a short time was able to send his parents the first ten dollar bill that he earned in America.
After some two months of fair success, he was advised by his benefactor to take a large bundle of goods and travel in the interior of the State, and was accordingly loaded down with over a hundred pounds of goods. After being out some time, he found himself at Woodcock Valley, and was recommended to go to Morrison's Cove, some five miles distant, through the woods. He had proceeded but a short way, when he was over- taken by darkness and soon lost the path, After vainly trying to find his way out, he finally sat down under a tree with the pack upon his back, fully expecting to remain in the woods all night. He thought of home and mother and brothers and sisters, and felt indescribably lonesome as he then, for the first time since leaving them, shed tears. But his reverie was sud- denly disturbed by the solemn march, close by him, of an im- mense number of turkeys, the first wild birds of that species he had ever seen, which only served to increase his melancholy, as they almost seemed to be marching to his funeral. Shortly after this he groped about till he discovered a light not far dis- tant, which proved to proreed from the cabin of a negro woman, who kindly gave him the best the house afforded-potatoes ; and for ten cents carried his pack to the bridge at the foot of the hill, near which he obtained lodgings for the night, although he was required to leave his pack down stairs, for fear he might have burglar's tools in it. He rambled through Pennsylvania and Ohio during the winter, and sold out his goods, and, on re- turning to Philadelphia to pay for them, discovered, to his mor- tification and loss, that owing to the heavy exchange between Ohio and Eastern money, he had been laboring for nothing, Mr. Steiner, however, finally paid one- half, and he was thus left with a little ready money. Having returned and made an hon-
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orable settlement, his credit was good for another stock of goods and a horse to ride ; so he sent twenty dollars to his parent and then made a trading expedition through Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia, that occupied about two years, during which time he was impressed with the fact that the Kentuckians were far more hospitable than the citizens of the other States through which he had traveled."
He returned to Philadelphia, paid his creditors, and found himself with the handsome capital of six hundred dollars, which he invested in dry goods and clothing at Cincinnati, and opened a store at Portsmouth, Ohio. This was in 1842; and so suc- cessful was he that in 4844 he did the most extensive business in the town.
In 1845 Mr. Elsas was married to Miss Jeannette Fechhei- mer, of Cincinnati, a lady every way worthy of him, who has largely contributed to his success by her hearty co-operation and prudent counsels. At this time Mr. Elsas had a capital of some six thousand dollars and commenced doing a jobbing busi- ness, obtaining goods at the best markets East. In the follow- ing year he purchased his first house at sheriff's sale, for five hundred and fifty dollars, and for the first time in his life im- agined he was rich. In 1847 the brother of Mrs. Elsas was drowned in the Scioto river; and being unwilling to reside there after the melancholy event, they removed to Cincinnati, and commencenced the wholesale boot and shoe business on Walnut street, near Pearl, which was about the first business house west of Main street. After two years he formed a part- nership with Mechheimer and Goldsmith, and added a clothing department to their house. This arrangement was continued only one year, having lost heavily by the California excitement During this year he erected his first house in Cincinnati, on Main street, near Lower Market; where he remained one year, and then removed to 18 Pearl street, between Main and Wal- nut, where he carried on the wholesale clothing business until 1854, when he rented a store in Neff's block, one square west. During this year le built a beautiful residence on Walnut Hills, and laid out some of the handsomest grounds in this vicinity. He resided at that place for about ten years, owing to the deli- cate state of his wife's health. He removed his business from
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Neff's block, on the completion of two stores which he erected on Pearl street, between Vine and Race, where he was very suc- cessful until 1863, when he discontinued his store business and put all his available means into buildings. He erected two sub- stantial blocks on the northeast corner of Race and Pearl streets and also the magnificent Phoenix block on Walnut street, and and his elegant residence on Fourth street, near John.
In 1864 he made a trip to Europe, with his eldest daugh- ter, to see his mother, then in her seventy-fourth year, after an absence from home of twenty-five years. This venerable parent died in 1870. In 1865 he built three stores on Race street, be- tween Third and Fourth, also one on the corner of John and Fourth. In 1866 he erected five stores on Pearl street, between Race and Elm, and started a large tannery on Hunt street, where business is conducted under the firm of Elsas & Pritz. He purchased the old lunatic asylum at Fairmount and started a woolen mill that he disposed of to his nephews, Adler & Co., which is now producing one thousand yards of jeans a day. The Clifton Brewery, erected in 1867, has proved the most dis- astrous enterprise in which he ever engaged, but happily it oc- curred when he was able to sustain the shock without serious inconvenience. During the same year he built nine dwelling houses on the east side of Vine street, north of Mulberry. In 1869, in company with Mr. Philip Heidelbach, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Evansville, Indiana, and laid out fourteen hundred lots, two hundred of which have been sold. It is doubtless a good investment.
Mr. Elsas has always been an ardent advocate of public improvements, and believes in encouraging manufactures of all kinds. He has performed many acts of kindness to deserving men of business, and sometimes to those not deserving, to his own hurt. He is frank and sincere in all his transactions, and and has earned the confidence of his fellow-citizens by a careful and honorable conduct of business for twenty-five years. His success has been very remarkable, and he has manifested a pub- lic spirit and a confidence in Cincinnati and also in Evansville, that are worthy of emulation by hosts of our wealthy men, by constantly investing his means in blocks of buildings that will be monuments to his memory and a credit to the city. He is
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