USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes > Part 116
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"The lad who loved nature, who knew where the best 'swimmin' hole' was to be found, where the fish bit best, where the sap- lings grew tallest and straightest for fishin'- poles, where the most beautiful wild flowers were to be found, drew these back in memory to the treasured days of youth by his vivid presentation of these rural charms. His themes have usually been homely ones, so life-like in their graphic narration, so full of his appreciation of their significance, that they appeal to the masses as well as the classes, and his fame has spread all over the country-and even beyond it, wherever the English tongue is in common use. To quote from Senator Albert J. Beveridge. in a speech made at the teachers' meeting held in Mr. Riley's home city in 1905: 'Dearer to the uni- versal man than soldier, statesman or scholar are the world's poets; for the poet interprets the soul of man to itself and makes immortal the wisdom of the common mind. After all. the source of all poetry is in the hearts of the people. In the consciousness of the masses is that intelligence of the higher truths of the universe, of which this life is
John S. Spam.
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but a reflection; and it is this intelligence, uttered in words of music, that constitutes real poetry. So he who knows not the people nor loves them cannot sing that song to which their very natures are attuned. The aristo- crat may make verses whose perfect art ren- ders them immortal like Horace, or state high truths in austere beauty like Arnold. But only the brother of the common can tell what the common heart longs for and feels, and only he lives in the understanding and affec- tion of the million ; only the man who is close to the earth and, therefore, close to the skies. knows the mysteries and beauties of both. Only he who is close to humanity is close to humanity's God.'
"Mr. Riley's two great characteristics, his talent as a poet and philosopher and his fidel- ity as an impersonator, have won the praise of two of the world's greatest actors-one of France and one of England. Sir Henry Irv- ing gave him a dinner during a visit to Lon- don, at which Coquelin, the great French actor, was also present. After hearing Mr. Riley the actors declared that he possessed naturally what they had been years acquiring. They knew little of his early life and the in- fluences which shaped his character, though this fact takes nothing from their recognition of his art.
"Mr. Riley's high ideals of patriotism and religion, and his very inclination to express himself in rhyme, may be traced to his fore- fathers in both paternal and maternal lines. His lone experience as a student, both of hu- man nature and of English poetical construc- tion, has enriched his mind with ideas and with a facility of expression most enviable."
Mr. Riley's early writings, which appear under the nom de plume of "Benjamin F. Johnson, of Boone." have for many years past been published under his own name- his Christian name having been given him in honor of an early governor and distinguished citizen of Indiana. While scarcely necessary, it may be noted that among his best known published works are "Neighborly Poems"; "Sketches In Prose and Occasional Verse"; "Orphant Annie"; "Old Swimmin' Hole"; "Rhymes of Childhood": "Afterwhiles"; "Character Sketches. Etc.": "Old Fashioned Roses": "Pipes (' Pan": "An Old Sweet- heart of Mine": "Green Fields and Running Brooks"; "Poems Here at Home".
Though it was never his to gain specific academie education. the broad scope of his study and reading have made Mr. Riley a man of genuine scholarship and noteworthy recog- nition of this was accorded in 1902. when he was honored with the degree of Master of
Arts by historic old Yale University, and again in 1904 when he was given the degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Pennsylvania. On the 28th of December, 1905, he was tendered a distinctive compli- ment by the Indiana State Teachers' Associa- tion which held a special session in his honor at Tomlinson hall in Indianapolis and the tribute thus accorded is one that has had few if any precedents in the lives of other authors. Among the speakers of the occasion were many of the most distinguished men of In- diana and also Honorable Henry Watterson, the honored and veteran editor of the Louis- ville Courier-Journal. Personally Mr. Riley is known throughout the most adverse sec- tions of the Union as well as abroad, as he has travelled extensively and has given many public readings from his works. He has in- sistently clung to a life of celibacy, and in Indianapolis, surrounded by a circle of friends tried and true, he has an attractive bachelor home on Lockerbie street, which has gained fame through his numerous references to the same as well as by reason of his there maintaining his home. He has loved the world and the world has loved him and life has given to him the full measure of its enrich- ment, even as he has given to others the opu- lence of his poetic fancy.
JOHN S. SPANN. A strong and noble char- acter was that of the late John S. Spann, who exerted an emphatic influence in connection 'with business and civic affairs in Indianapolis during the entire course of a long and signifi- «antly successful carecr. The major part of his life was passed in the capital city of In- «liana and he gained success through his indi- vidual ability and application, ever standing exemplar of that integrity of purpose which figures as the plumb of character and makes for objective valuation in connection with the varied relations of life. Mr. Spann was one of the pioneer newspaper men of Indianapolis, and in this field of enterprise he wielded a large and beneficent influence in the early days of the city's history. Later he was an extensive operator in the real estate business, and in this connection he did much to further the prog- ress and material upbuilding of the capital city. He maintained a vital interest in all that concerned the civic and business advance- ment and prosperity of his home city and left upon its history the impress of a vigorous, loval and influential citizen and sterling busi- ness man. It is most consonant that in a work of the province assigned to the one at hand there should be accorded at least a slight trib- nte to this honored pioneer, with brief record of his career.
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John S. Spann was born in Jennings County, Indiana, on the 24th of May, 1823, which date bears its own significance as indi- cating that his parents were numbered among the early settlers of this commonwealth, with ' whose history the family name has been iden- tified for more than three-fourths of a century. In the common schools of his native county Mr. Spann gained an education on a parity with that afforded the average youth of the locality and period, and his initial labors in the field of practical industry were those in connection with the reclamation and cultiva- tion of the home farm. In 1839, as a lad of sixteen years, he came to Indianapolis, where he forthwith entered upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, in which he became a competent workman, and in which connection he exemplified the truth of the statement that the discipline of a printing and newspaper office is equivalent to a liberal education. He became a man of fine intellectuality and broad mental ken, and his career was one marked by consecutive development or personality as well as of cumulative success in a material way. For a number of years Mr. Spann was promi- nentlv identified with the newspaper press of Indianapolis, and here his influence was potent and beneficent, as in all other relations of life. In November, 1846, he became junior member of the firm of Chapman & Spann, publishers and editors of the State Sentinel, and in 1850 he became associated with the late E. W. H. Ellis in establishing a weekly Democratie paper, to which was given the title of Indiana Statesman. In 1852 this was merged with the Sentinel and two vears later Mr. Spann and Mr. John B. Norman purchased the plant and business of the Sentinel, of which they dis- posed in the following year. With this trans- fer Mr. Spann's active identification with newspaper work in Indianapolis was termi- nated. In 1860 he engaged in the real estate business, and in this field of enterprise he achieved splendid success, both in the ad- vancing of his own interests and those of the city. He was the founder of the firm of John S. Spann & Company, and this title is still retained, in the conducting of the large and important business controlled by the present concern, which is incorporated under the laws of the state and of which his son, Thomas H. Spann, is president. as noted in the sketch of the latter's career. on other pages of this vol- nme. Mr. Spann laid out several additions to the city and many of his transactions in the real estate line were of individual order-that is, aside from those of the firm in which he was an interested principal. His operations were not exceeded in scope and importance by
those of any of his contemporaries, and to him is due the platting and development of a num- her of the most attractive residence sections of Indianapolis. He was a Republican in poli- tics after the war, but before was a Democrat, and while ever progressive and public-spirited as a citizen he had no ambitions for the honors or emoluments of public office. He was an official member of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he was a ruling elder for a number of years prior to his death. It may be noted incidentally that this church was organ- ized in 1838, by that celebrated divine, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, of whom Mr. Spann was a personal friend.
On the 2nd of June, 1847, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Spann to Miss Hester A. Sharpe, daughter of Ebenezer Sharpe, to whom is dedicated a brief memoir appearing else- where in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Spann be- came the parents of eight children, of whom four attained to years of maturity, and of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. Mr. Spann was summoned to the life eternal on the 2nd of July, 1897, secure in the high regard of all who knew him, and his cherished and devoted wife still survives and is eighty-two years of age. The names of both merit an enduring place on the roll of the honored pioneers of Indianapolis, in whose social and religious life they were long promi- nent.
THOMAS H. SPANN. What of the man and what of his accomplishment? This is an in- tuitive query that asserts itself whenever is taken into consideration the claims of any per- son, and the verdict set by popular estimate is unequivocal and nearly always just. Each man gets out of life no more than he puts into it. and his character expresses itself either in its productiveness or in its supine or parasitic inactivity. In the matter of definite accom- rlishment and high personal integrity the fair capital city of Indiana has every reason to be proud of her native sons who are here lending their aid and co-operation in forwarding her civic, industrial and commercial advancement. As a member of one of the old and honored families of Indianapolis and as one of the rep- resentative business men of his native city. Thomas H. Spann is especially eligible for recognition in this publication. On other pages is entered a memoir concerning his father, the late John S. Spann. and also a brief review of the career of his maternal grandfather, Ebenezer Sharpe, both of whom were numbered among the prominent and in- Auential citizens of Indianapolis, and in view of such records it is not demanded that further consideration of the family history be accorded
Jste Spam
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in this article. It may be said that Mr. Spann himself has not, either as a citizen or business man, stood in the shadow of his father or grandfather, both of whom accomplished much for Indianapolis, but he has individually added to the laurels of the name which he bears and has directed his productive energies along normal and beneficent lines.
Thomas H. Spann was born in Indianapolis on the 8th of June, 1848, and the place of his nativity was the old family homestead on Illi- nois street, opposite present terminal station. After duly availing himself of the public schools of his native city he entered historic old Williams College. Massachusetts, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1869, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Upon his return to Indianapolis he became associated with his father in the latter's ex- tensive real estate operations, and for many vears he maintained this grateful and prolific business alliance with his father, under the firm name of John S. Spann & Company, which is still retained. His father was identi- fied with the enterprise until he passed to the life eternal, and since that time the son has been the prime factor in carrying forward the business. which dates its inception back to the year 1860. No real estate concern has done more for the development and substantial up- building of Indianapolis than has that of John S. Spann & Company, both as a firm and as a corporation. In 1902 the business was incor- porated under the laws of the state and with- out change of the original title, as has already been stated, and Thomas H. Spann has been president from the time of such incorporation. The operations of the firm and company have heen of most extensive and important order. including the opening and improving of sev- eral additions and sub-divisions of the city and the erection of many residence and business buildings. The company has also transacted an enormous amount of business in the gen- eral handling of improved and unimproved property, in the extending of financial loans upon real estate security, and in the conduct- ing of a large fire and casualty insurance busi- ness. The executive and administrative ability of Thomas H. Spann have come into effective play in the upbuilding of the fine business enterprise of which he is the head and with which he has been identified from his youth to the present, covering the entire period of a business career marked by energy, discrimi- nation, progressiveness and impregnable in- tegrity of purpose. It is needless to say that in his native city he commands the unqualified esteem and confidence of the community.
Taking a vital interest in all that has tended
to conserve the progress and civic prosperity of his native city, Mr. Spann has lent his tangible aid and co-operation in the furthering of enterprises and measures touching the wel- fare of the same, and in his attitude has ever been essentially liberal and public-spirited. Though the honors or emoluments of public office have had naught of allurement for him, he is a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and he is a member of the Indian- apolis Commercial Club, and other organiza- tions whose primary object is the promotion of the best interests of the community. He and his wife are devoted and influential members of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder, as was also his honored father, who was one of the founders of this society. Reared in a thoroughly refined and cultured home and touching the best in social life from his youth up, Mr. Spann shows in his gracious personality and kindliness, as well as in his unmistakable popularity, that he is "to the manner born." He and his family are promi- nent in the social affairs of Indianapolis, and their attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality.
On the 25th of January, 1872, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Spann to Miss Sarah F. Smith, who was born and reared in Troy, New York, and who is a daughter of Harvey and Anna (Sprague) Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Spann have two daughters-Anna H., who re- mains at the parental home, and Louise, who is the wife of Berkley W. Duck, of Indianapolis.
DAVID B. BRENNEKE is the proprietor of the fine dancing academy which bears his name and whose equipment and appointments are of the most metropolitan type. Since es- tablishing himself in business as a teacher of the art of dancing he has developed a large and representative clientele in Indianapolis, where he is held in high personal popularity and where his institution caters to the de- mands of the highest social classes.
Mr. Brenneke is a native of Germany, hav- ing been born near the City of Brunswick, ou the 26th of October, 1855, and being a son of David and Julia (Seggelke) Brenneke. The subject of this review secured his early edu- eation in the excellent national schools of his native land, and in 1870, in company with his elder brother, he came to the United States, whither his parents emigrated at a later date. The two brothers took up their residence in Evansville, Indiana. where David B. com- pleted a course in a business college and where he held for some time the position of clerk in a furniture store. He later became a teacher of dancing in that city, having early
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become proficient in this art, in connection with which he has attained to definite success and leadership.
In 1882 Mr. Brenneke came to Indianapolis, at the solicitation and through the influence of Mrs. Allen, wife of Dr. R. H. Allen, of the Allen Surgical Institute, and his first class in dancing in this city received its in- struction in the ball room of the private resi- dence of Dr. Allen. This initial class com- prised fifty members and finally Mr. Bren- neke was also induced to assume the instruc- tion of a class in the Indianapolis Seminary. Later Mrs. John C. New induced him to teach a special class at her residence, and by the time the three classes had completed their courses Mr. Brenneke had become well and favorably known in Indianapolis and had de- termined to make permanent location in the capital city. Mrs. Hugh Hanna later accord- ed him generons support in securing for him a class of one hundred and fifty pupils in La- fayette, Indiana, hier former home. He con- tinued to give instructions in daneing in other cities of the state, as well as Indianapolis, un- til 1895, when he erected his present commo- dious and model academy building at the corner of North and Illinois streets, and he has sinee confined his work almost entirely to his large local patronage. His academy building is a substantial briek and stone struc- ture, and in addition to the fine ball room and other provisions for classes and large so- cial functions the building has accommoda- tions for several business concerns. Mr. Brenneke has met with gratifying success since he came to Indianapolis-both in a busi- ness and artistic sense, since at the time of his arrival in this city his available capital did not exceed one hundred dollars. He is now the owner of one of the finest dancing academies to be found in the middle west. He is ranked among the leaders in his profession in the United States, is a member of the American Society of Professors of Dancing, and also of the National Association of Teach- ers of Dancing of the United States and Can- ada. His cordiality and genial personality have won to him a wide cirele of friends in Indianapolis and he is deeply loval to the city in which he has gained so much of success and prestige.
In 1882 Mr. Brenneke was united in mar- riage to Miss Fannie Duval, who was born at Morganfield, Kentucky. and who is of French lineage.
GEORGE W. BUNTING, SR. For more than a quarter of . a century the subject of this brief memoir was engaged in the practice of his profession. that of architect, in Indian-
apolis, and he attained high reputation and unqualified success in his chosen vocation. He has left as monuments to his technical and artistic ability many fine public buildings in Indiana and other states of the Union, and his sterling manhood gained to him the un- equivocal regard of those with whom he came in contact in the various relations of a long and useful career. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served as a soldier of the Confederacy and attained to the rank of colonel. For a number of years prior to his death, which occurred on the 22nd of July, 1901, he was associated in the work of his profession with his son George W., Jr., who still holds prestige as one of the leading representatives of the architectural profession in Indiana's capital city.
Colonel George W. Bunting was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of July, 1829, and thus he celebrated his seventy- second birthday only three days prior to his demise. The Bunting family lineage is traced back to stanch English stock and its original representatives in America were members of the Society of Friends; they set- tled in Pennslvania in the colonial era of our national history. Captain Asa Bunting, father of Colonel Bunting, followed a seafaring life for a number of years and in this connection was captain of various vessels. He turned his attention to other lines of endeavor after leaving the sea and continued to reside in the State of Pennsylvania until his death. Colo- nel Bunting was afforded the advantages of the common schools of his native state, where he also attended Girard College, in which in- stitution he received excellent preliminary training for the work of his chosen profession. As a youth he served a thorough apprentice- ship to the shipbuilder's trade, in the City of Philadelphia, and this careful training did much to fortify him for the vocation to which he gave the greater. part of his active career.
As a young man Colonel Bunting went to the State of Mississippi, where he was resid- ing at the inception of the Civil War. He forthwith enlisted in defense of the cause of the Confederacy, and he served during the greater part of the war as colonel of the First Mississippi Cavalry. After the close of the war Colonel Bunting returned to the north and for five years he was engaged in the work of his profession at Bloomington. Illinois, whence he came to Indianapolis.
He was devoted to his chosen vocation, in which he gained much distinction and success, and his operations were of wide scope and importance. while he was known as a busi- ness man of unwavering reliability as well as
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of much ability. During Thomas Taggart's first administration as mayor of Indianapolis he held the office of city building inspector, in which he did much to effect needed im- provements in. building in all parts of the city. Though he was essentially progressive and public-spirited he was never a seeker of public office, and the one just mentioned, in direct line with the work of his profession, was accepted by him from a sense of civic loyalty and duty. He was a Democrat in his political proclivities, was a member of the American Institute of Architects, and was af- filiated with the Masonic fraternity. His son was associated with him in business until the time of his death, and concerning their work the following pertinent statements have been written : "Public buildings have been a spe- cialty with G. W. Bunting & Son. Among the structures planned and erected by them are the following: Court houses in Franklin, Bluffton, Crawfordsville, Frankfort, Ander- son and Bloomfield, Indiana; and at Ann Ar- bor, Michigan ; Clarksville, Tennessee; Clarks- burg, West Virginia; and Wichita, Kansas, together with county jails and asylums in various counties of Indiana and Illinois. They planned and built all the college buildings connected with the University of Indiana, at Bloomington. In Indianapolis their planning and building transactions have averaged an annual value of four hundred thousand dol- lars, putting the actual worth of the struc- tures at the lowest possible figure."
Colonel Bunting was liberal and progres- sive as a citizen and his high civic ideals were shown in his earnest efforts to promote the architectural advancement and other interests of Indianapolis. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party. He was af- filiated with the Masonic fraternity and held membership in various social organizations of representative order. He was genial and cordial, big-hearted, generous and philan- thropic. His sympathy for those unfortunate or distressed was never lacking, and it is known that he never permitted a hungry man to be turned from his door unsatisfied, no matter what the character of the applicant might be. He did not sit in judgment on his fellow men and thus found sympathy for even those commonly designated as unworthy. He was a man of marked vitality and took a deep interest in outdoor recreations and sports, in which connection it may be noted that he was a crack pistol shot. During the greater part of his residence in Indiana he maintained his home at Haughville. an at- tractive suburb of Indianapolis, and there his death occurred.
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