Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes, Part 113

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes > Part 113

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For many years George Merritt was an ac- tive and valued member of the National Asso- ciation of Manufacturers and the American Protective Tariff' League, and he has ever been a stanch advocate of the principles of protective tariff for American industries, be- ing well fortified in his opinions and having been a close student of economic subjects and their practical application. Mr. Merritt gave the best of his splendid energies and abilities to the upbuilding of his manufacturing busi- ness, which eventually became one of broad scope and importance, representing one of the leading manufacturing enterprises of the city. He also became actively identified with other important commercial, financial and in- dustrial enterprises that have contributed ma- terially to the progress and prosperity of In- dianapolis, and it is worthy of special note that in 1864 he became one of the organizers and incorporators of the Indiana National Bank, of whose directorate he continued a valued member until he declined to continue further activity in this position, owing to ad- vancing years. Mr. Merritt served for twelve

years as a member of the board of school commissioners of Indianapolis, and during the major part of this period he was the ef- ficient and popular chairman of its financial committee. Concerning his earnest and fruit- ful efforts in the cause of education the fol- lowing pertinent statements have been writ- ten : "By his indefatigable efforts and lib- cral donations throughout its experimental stage, manual training was introduced into the high school. Until within the past few years he had served continuously as trustee of what is known as the Gregg fund, a be- quest to the public schools of Indianapolis, and when, through his careful management, the original ten thousand dollars became more than doubled, a committee, of which he was a member, was appointed to expend the in- come in the technical education of teachers in the various lines. In many ways the thought and care given by George Merritt to the improvement of the public schools of In-

dianapolis have helped to place them on their present high standard at the head of similar schools of America.

Mr. Merritt is known in Indianapolis as the "father of parks and playgrounds". At the close of the Civil War he secured from the state for park purposes the ground now known as "Military Park". His personal care and attention transformed it into a re- freshing resting place in the midst of the city. · Later, when a wish for a general park system arose, his name led the list of the Board of Park Commissioners, which was then established. He continued a member until his frequent absences in California led him to resign. In the meantime he had es- tablished a playground in a section of Mili- tary Park, placing the children in charge of a kindergartner, he having encouraged the kindergartens of the city from their incep- tion. He equipped and maintained this play- ground at his own expense for a number of years. Its intrinsic value having finally be- come fully appreciated by the city, the care of it was adopted by the Board of Park Com- missioners and its maintenance, together with that of a playground in each of the larger parks, is the outgrowth of the idea. Since then Mr. Merritt has established a fund for the maintenance of a playground in one of the public school yards in the hope that the city may soon see its way clear to make such recreation places a part of the regular public school system.

Guided by personal predilections and the traditions of a long line of Quaker ances- tors, it was essentially out of the question for Mr. Merritt to enter service as a soldier in the Civil War, as his beliefs were firmly against the taking of human life, even in furtherance of a just cause. But none fa- miliar with his earnest and devoted zeal can doubt that he did more than many a gallant officer in upholding the cause of the Union, when the nation's integrity was thus placed in jeopardy. He was a strong and vigor- ous, supporter of the government and was a trusted adviser of Governor Morton, to whom he immediately offered his services in any capacity where he could be instrumental in saving the lives of our wounded soldiers. As a member of the Indiana sanitary com- mission, Mr. Merritt gave freely of his time and means, being almost constantly employed in conducting the corps of surgeons and nurses, with sanitary supplies, to the vari- ous battle fields and hospitals. While thus at the front his many experiences with dying soldiers in their agonizing anxiety for the welfare of their families, enlisted his deep-

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est sympathies and at the close of the war, in association with Miss Susan Fussell, he es- tablished at Knightstown, Indiana, a home for the accommodation and care of a limited number of soldiers' orphans, for whose train- ing liberal provision was made until such time as they were able to help themselves. Mr. Merritt bore the necessary expenses involved and Miss Fussell was an earnest and faithful coadjutor. She was a lady of education and refinement, and had volunteered her services as a hospital nurse during the war, being thus eminently fitted for the discharge of the duties devolving upon her while in charge of the orphanage mentioned.

It is a matter of record that Mr. Merritt was the first to advocate the cottage farm for the State Soldiers' Orphans' Home of Indiana, believing that this approach to the conditions and relations of family life was best for the children, and also hoping there- by to furnish employment for soldiers' wid- ows. Largely through his exertions a bill passed the legislature whereby orphan chil- dren in poor houses were established in fam- ilies, under the care of matrons.

Concerning Mr. Merritt General John Co- burn, one of the most honored citizens of In- dianapolis and a distinguished member of the Indiana bar, has written as follows: "Mr. Merritt is eminently a public-spirited man. All matters tending to the improvement of society interest him, and his private charities are without nuniber. Few men who have lived in this city have done more than he in aiding the poor and helpless. Whatever he has done has been without ostentation of any sort. He is a modest, quiet, unassum- ing man who has a constant eye upon the means of helping the weak and unfortunate. It may well he said of him that he is a model Christian gentleman, a plain, manly, strong and kind type of the true and intelli- gent American." Mr. Merritt has given much to the world, -- a generous measure of kindliness, toleration and definite helpfulness, and there is no nobler title than that of helper. He has, indeed, remembered those who were forgotten, and his benefices have been not only of financial order, but also of gracious human sympathy. In all his good- ly works he has ever acknowledged a debt to his cherished and devoted wife, who has given him an abiding sympathy and aid in all his endeavors and who stands as a type of gentle, gracious and noble womanhood. Though ever averse to publicity and never consenting to become a candidate for politi- cal office, Mr. Merritt is known as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for

which the Republican party stands sponsor. He and his wife have maintained a home in Spring Valley, San Diego County, Califor- nia, since 1886, but there are many gracious ties that still bind and hold them to their Indianapolis home, where their circle of friends is coincident with that of their ac- quaintances.

Mr. Merritt married Miss Paulina T. Mc- Clung, of Xenia, Ohio, in 1852. She was a daughter of John S. and Hannah (Kinnear) McClung, who removed from Rockbridge County, Virginia, that their children might be brought up in a "Free State". Mrs. Merritt's ancestral line is traced back to stanch Scotch-Irish origin. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Merritt, the fol- lowing brief record is entered in conclusion of this sketch. The eldest, Jeannette Grace, died in 1884. Immediately after completing his collegiate education in 1881, Worth, the older son, became a partner with his father in the woolen manufacturing business. His interest in travel led him through foreign as well as home lands, and finally culminated in his tragic death while crossing, alone, the Great Colorado Desert in June, 1906. Two vears thereafter his remains were found in the vicinity of the Galton Sea and were un- questionably identified by the presence of his readily recognized personal effects, such as his watch, money belt, canteen and other articles of his complete camping outfit. Ernest, the younger son, occupies the chair of physics in Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York, where he was graduated in 1886. He is also Dean of the graduate school, one of the editors of the Physical Review and al- together is a man of high scholastic attain- Inents.

EUDORUS M. JOHNSON. Earnest, sincere and loyal in all the relations of life was the honored subject of this memoir, and his name is held in gracious memory in the City of In- dianapolis, where he long maintained his home and where he ever commanded unquali- fied esteem as a citizen, business man and public official. His character was moulded on a noble scale, and honor and integrity de- noted the man at all times and under all con- ditions. He left a distinct impress as one of the sterling citizens of the metropolis of his native state, where his death occurred on the 18th of June, 1908, and so worthy was his life, so defrite and valuable his accomplish- ment as one of the world's workers, that it is but in justice dne that in this volume a memoir be dedicated to him.

Eudorus M. Johnson was born at Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, on the 27th of

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HISTORY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS.

March, 1848, and was a son of Sylvester and Rachel (Miner) Johnson, both of whom were likewise natives of Indiana and representa- tives of. honored pioneer families of this state. Sylvester Johnson became one of the promi- nent and influential citizens of Wayne County, where he held various positions of public trust, including that of county auditor. At that time Centerville was the judicial cen- ter of the county, whose county seat is now the City of Richmond. In 1872 Sylvester John- son removed with his family to Irvington, which is now an integral part of the City of Indianapolis, and there he is still living, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. His wife passed the closing years of her life iu Irvington, where her death occurred a num- ber of years ago. Sylvester Johnson and Jared Julian were virtually the founders of the village of Irvington, as the major part of the town was laid out by them. They se- cured a large tract of land and many of the attractive homes in that beautiful suburban district were erected by them.

In the common schools of his native county the subject of this memoir gained his early education, which was supplemented by a course of study in Earlham College, at Rich- mond, that county. As a boy he became a clerk in the office of the auditor of Wayne County, at the time of his father's adminis- tration of that office, and he was variously engaged thereafter until 1872, when, at the age of twenty-four years, he came to Indian- apolis, which city thereafter represented his home during the greater part of the time un- til he was summoned from the sphere of life's mortal endeavors. Upon coming to the capi- tal city he secured a position as traveling salesman for the printing, publishing and office-supply establishment of W. B. Burford, in whose employ he continued for some time. He later took up his residence at Covington, Fountain County, where he served as deputy county auditor under the regime of E. H. Nebeker. After his return to Indianapolis he served as deputy treasurer of Marion County, under Jackson Landers, and he also held the position of deputy to W. K. Sproule, county auditor. When Thomas Taggart was elected auditor of the county, Mr. Johnson was retained as his deputy, and this incum- bency he retained for eight years, during the two terms of Mr. Taggart's service as auditor. He finally resigned his office in the auditor's office to accept that of city controller, of which he continued incumbent during the three terms that Thomas Taggart held the position of mayor of Indianapolis. He filled the office with marked discrimination and

ability and his administration has been a model for his successors. Mr. Johnson's fidelity to public trust was ever of the most impregnable order, and he was not to be swerved from the course of honor and integ- rity by any matter of personal or political expediency, so that he well merited the con- fidence reposed in him by all who knew him or were familiar with his actions. After re- tiring from the office of city controller Mr. Johnson was for several years one of the in- terested principals in the banking house of J. F. Wild & Company, of which he was vice- president until the 1st of January; 1908, when he assumed an advisory position in the Fletcher National Bank, where he assumed charge of the bond and investment depart- ment, which was established under his super- vision and direction. He had marked ability in the handling of financial affairs of im- portance, and his having been thus called to executive position in the Fletcher National Bank stands in evidence of this fact, as well as a mark of the secure place he held in the confidence and esteem of the representative business men of the city.

From an appreciative article appearing in the Indianapolis News at the time of his death are taken the following extracts, in which but slight paraphrase is made: "A little more than a month ago Mr. Johnson remained at home, suffering from what ap- peared to be a slight indisposition. On Wednesday, May 13th, when he awoke in the morning, it was discovered that the right side of his body was paralyzed. This stroke came without premonition. For a few days he seemed to be recovering, but later, with the development of a high temperature, his physician realized that the end was approach- ing, and he died after an illness of five weeks, passing away at his home, 1617 North Merid- ian street." William A. Hughes, of the Fletcher National Bank, who for nearly thirty years was more intimately associated with Mr. Johnson than any other man, said of him:

"He was the most genial, companionable man I ever knew. I shall always treasure the memory of his bright face, his sunshiny tem- per, his never-failing good nature under all circumstances. Yet his was a firm character, not to be shaken from what he thought to be right, and when he expressed his convictions on any subject his words had no uncertain sound. I do not know of any man who would go farther to do another a favor. I first knew him in 1881, when we became neighbors, our houses side by side. At that time he was in the office of Francis T. Hord, attorney gen-

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HISTORY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS.

eral of Indiana, and he traveled over the state, collecting fees for the state. He held that position four years. Before that he had been with W. K. Sproule, auditor of Marion County, as deputy, and with Mr. Nebeker, auditor of Fountain County, in the same ca- pacity. Before this, as a boy, he had been with his father, who was auditor of Wayne County. So at a very early day he began to acquire knowledge of county business, in which connection his technical ability and breadth of information have not been equaled by those of anyone in Marion County. In 1877 he went with Mr. Sproule from the lit- tle brick court house to the present fine county building. He was with Mr. Taggart during the latter's eight years in the audi- tor's office, and for nearly six years was city controller under Mayor Taggart. He re- signed as controller shortly before the ex- piration of. Mr. Taggart's third term as mayor, to go into the brokerage business with J. F. Wild & Company, where he remained until the first of the present year (1908), when he came to the Fletcher National Bank and assumed charge of the bond and invest- ment department. 'Dora' Johnson was a good story-teller, and the stories he told were clean. There was always a point to them. His humor was of a high order and he had a fine knowledge of human nature. He seemed almost intuitively to know the true man from the other fellow. By his courtesy, his wil- lingness to serve others, he made friends, but his intimates, those to whom he really opened his heart, were few. A little more than a year ago he was entertaining, but not seri- ously,, the idea of a removal to California. Then the thought of old friends and old sur- roundings came to him in full force. He said he could not bear to think of leaving his old friends, of leaving this city, which was so dear to him, and said no inducement could be made that would cause him to go away. I doubt if any other man ever lived in this community who had as genial and wholesome a personality as 'Dora' Johnson, as he was familiarly known."

John F. Wild, the executive head of the banking firm of J. F. Wild & Company, with which Mr. Johnson was associated for a num- ber of years, as vice-president of the bank, gave utterance to the following appreciative words: "What a bright and cheerful nature he had, always looking on the best side of everything. I think he was the most lovable man I ever knew. It was no trivial good nature, for there was an earnestness under it that inspired confidence. And that confi- dence was well deserved. He was worthy of

it, worthy of the host of friends he made, . worthy of the great number of people who be- lieved in him, for he was pure gold."

In politics Mr. Johnson gave his allegiance to the Democratic party and he was an ef- fective exponent of its principles and policies, as well as an active worker in its local ranks for many years. He is survived by one brother and one sister, O. R. Johnson, who is business manager of the Indianapolis News, and Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, of Denver, Colo- rado.

The transcendent nobility of the subject of this memoir was shown most effectively in the sacred precincts of a home of idyllic as- sociations and influences, and to those nearest and dearest to him there has come the great- est sense of loss and bereavement but also the fullest measure of compensation and recon- ciliation, in that they thus closely touched the gracious and devoted personality of the hus- band and father. On the 28th of November, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Johnson to Miss Minnie Chilton Leitch, who was born at Wiota, Lafayette County, Wis- consin, and who is a daughter of James Henry Leitch and Eveline (Chilton) Leitch, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. John- son still resides in the attractive home on North Meridian street, and the same is en- deared to her by the gracious associations of the past, even as it has long been known for its generous and refined hospitality. Mr. Johnson is also survived by three children, Sylvester, who was graduated in the depart- ment of civil engineering of Princeton Uni- versity; Chilton, who likewise pursued a course in the same university ; and Eudorus M., Jr., who received excellent training un- der the direction of private tutors, in Cali- fornia.

ROGER R. SHIEL. A unique and potent fac- tor in the business circle of the capital city of his native state, Roger R. Shiel has wielded much influence in civic and industrial affairs and few citizens of Greater Indianapolis are better known than he. A man of comprehen- sive views and well fortified opinions, he has never lacked the courage of his convictions, and he has never been reluctant to clash arms with "a foeman worthy of his steel". He is a representative business man of Indiana, is one of the substantial capitalists of the state metropolis, and his independence and sterling character have won to him a wide circle of loyal and appreciative friends. He is a veteran of the War of the Rebellion and in the "piping times of peace" he has likewise fought a good fight, gaining success through his own well directed endeavors.

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HISTORY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS.

Roger R. Shiel, who is familiarly known in his home city as "Rhody" Shiel, was born at Strawtown, Indiana, on the 19th of August, 1843, and is a scion of old and influential families of the Emerald Isle. His great- great-uncle, Richard Lalor Shiel, was a cele- brated Irish orator and patriot, and his death occurred in 1835. Michael Shiel, a great- uncle of the subject of this review, came from County Cork, Ireland, to America about the year 1820, and first settled in Pennsylvania, where he became prominently identified with the state militia, in which he held the rank of general. In 1825 he came to Indiana and settled in the wilderness. He laid out the town of Shielville, a name that was retained for many years, but the village is now known as Atlanta. He secured the establishment of a postoffice in the new town, which is located on the line between Tipton and Howard Counties, a part of the old Shiel farm being in each county. Michael Shiel was the first merchant of the village that bore his name and was a citizen of prominence and influence in the pioneer community.

Patrick Shiel, the father of him whose name initiates this article, was the eldest of a large family of children and was born on a farm near Clonmell, County Cork, Ireland, where he was reared to maturity and where he was afforded excellent educational advan- tages, as the family was one of prominence and in independent circumstances. About the year 1826 Patrick Shiel was united in marriage to Miss Alice Casey, who was born in County Tipperary, in 1805, which was also the year of his birth. They were young folk of education and refinement and soon after their marriage they severed the gracious ties that bound them to home and native land and set forth to establish a home of their own in America. They landed in the port of New York, thence went to Pittsburg, from which city they made their way to Cincinnati, from which place they came to Indiana, where they joined General Michael Shiel, at Shielville. Patrick Shiel purchased a tract of heavily timbered land in that locality and there he lived up to the full tension of the pioneer days, developing a productive farm and con- tinuing to reside on the old homestead until his death, as did also his noble and devoted wife. Both were devont communicants of the Catholic Church, and as the children came to bless the pioneer home the mother would call them about her every night and repeat the rosary, in addition to which the family held services with the catechism each Sunday morning. In the early days the Shiel family practically supported and maintained the

Catholic Church at Tipton. In this connec- tion it should be noted that all his life has Roger R. Shiel been a sterling and loyal son of the Catholic Church, and it may well be understood that he reveres the memory of his gentle and noble mother, as well as that of his honored father. While thus clinging to the faith of the great mother church he has never been intolerant or bigoted in his religious attitude or in his decisive intellec- tuality. His heart and purse have always been open to every deservng object and dur- ing . his long years of residence in Indian- apolis there have been erected few churches of any denomination to whose building he has not contributed with liberality. Every hospital, every charitable, benevolent and educational institution has found in him a liberal friend. He contributed generously to the building fund of the present magnifi- cent building of the Indianapolis Young Men's Christian Association, and a similar course has been taken by him in the support of other institutions for the benefit of young men and women. There has been naught of ostentation in his benefactions, and it can be readily understood that the man himself has a strong hold upon popular confidence and esteem in the capital city of his native state.

Patrick and Alice (Casey) Shiel became the parents of twelve children, and all but the eldest, John, were born after the immi- gration to America. Three of the children died in infancy and concerning the others the following brief record is entered : John died while serving as a soldier in the Mexi- can War; James K. was sixty-nine years of age at the time of his death; Roger R. is the immediate subject of this review; William is deceased; Terrence M .; Ellen and Catherine are also deceased; and Margaret and Eliza- beth. Three of the. sons, James K., Roger R. and William, were gallant soldiers of the Union in the Civil War.

Roger Shiel waxed strong in mental and physical powers under the sturdy discipline of the home farm, and as he was reared un- der the influences and conditions of what may be termed the middle pioneer period in In- diana, it can be understood that his early educational advantages were somewhat mea- ger, being confined to the little country school located about three miles distant from his home. Like many another of alert mentality he has effectively overcome the handicap of early years, and through the lessons gained under the wise head-master, Experience, he has become a man of broad and exact infor- mation in regard to men and affairs, as has been well shown in his many published ar-

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Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes, Part 113

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 972

Author: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924. cn
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 972