USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes > Part 17
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Mr. Sipe finds his chief diversion in sports afield and afloat, and has gained no little re- pute as a "mighty hunter", like Nimrod of old. He has been a successful hunter of large game and has a number of splendid trophies of the hunt, in the way of mounted heads of deer, bears and other large game. He has made extensive hunting trips in the west and in Mexico, having given himself such interest- ing and wholesome relation since 1882 and spending from one to three months each year in this fine sport.
Mr. Sipe is a careful, conservative and reliable business man and one of progressive ideas, as is evidenced in the distinctive suc- cess he has gained since establishing his resi- dence and business headquarters in the In- diana capital, and while he is essentially loyal and public-spirited as a citizen and is a stanch supporter of the cause of the Re- publican party he has never shown any pre- dilection or desire for political office of anv description. He is well known and held in high popular esteem in his home city, where he is a member of the Columbia Club and is prominently identified with the Masonie fra- ternity, in which he has attained to the thirty- second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite, being affiliated with Indiana Sov- ereign Consistory. and also holding member-
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ship in Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
On the 15th of June, 1898, Mr. Sipe was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Chamber- lin Brown, who was born and reared in Elk- hart, Indiana, being the second in order of birth of the five children of Dr. Adrian and Helena (Chamberlin) Brown, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom now resides in Indianapolis. Dr. Brown was a physician by profession and he also conducted a drug store in Elkhart for many years, being identified with this line of enterprise at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Sipe have three children-Helena R., Charles B. and Carroll E.
OLIVER W. PIERCE. It can scarcely be de- nied that this is an essentially commercial age, but it is also gratifying to note that in almost every populous community may be found those elements which represent the higher ideals of life and illume the more sordid and utilitarian phases. There is a dis- tinet correlation in all art expression and to the one who becomes appreciative each form of such expression must bear its measure of uplift and subjective pleasure. This is es- pecially true of music, which in its manifold forms and ramifications can touch all sorts and conditions of men, and in the beautiful capital city of Indiana there is found a tal- ented and popular exemplar of this "divine art" in the person of Oliver Willard Pierce, an accomplished pianist, theorist and student in the domain of musical expression. As an interpretive artist he has special precedence, and as a teacher his success has been on a parity with his fine talents. He has proved a valuable acquisition to the generic art and social life of Indianapolis and, standing rep- resentative in his profession, he is eminently entitled to consideration in this publication. He has fostered and broadened distinctive natural talent through well directed study under the ablest musical instructors in Amer- ica and on the European continent, notably the world-renowned master, Moszkowski, who was his teacher in Berlin. Germany, and who showed special marks of favor and prefer- ence.
Mr. Pierce is a native of the City of Hills- dale, Michigan, where he was born on the 19th of February, 1869, and he is a son of Hiram and Marie (Cooper) Pierce, both of whom were representatives of stanch old New England stock in Massachusetts and Vermont. In that cradle of so much of our national history the lineage in the maternal line is traced back through the Puritan ancestry to the time of the Pilgrim fathers. Hiram
Pierce was a man whose vocation, that of a commercial traveler, enabled him to afford his children good educational advantages, and the latter further had special privileges in the appreciative care and guidance of a mother of distinctive culture and refinement. Mrs. Marie (Cooper) Pierce was a woman of high scholastic attainments and was for nearly twenty years preceptress and professor of history and belles lettres in Hillsdale College, Michigan. Thus the subject of this review received his earlier educational discipline al- most entirely under the tutorship of his mother, by whom he was prepared to enter college. He was matriculated in the classical or academic department of Hillsdale College, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1891 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had simul- taneously prosecuted his technical studies in the musical conservatory of this well or- dered institution of learning. In 1894, he re- ceived from his alma mater the degree of Master of Arts. He was president of his class in his junior year in college and won the ora- torical prize of the Amphictyon literary so- ciety in that year. At his graduation he also secured both the Crandell literary prize and the Martin mathematical prize, the first time in the history of the college that both of these coveted honors had been won by the same student. After leaving Hillsdale College Mr. Pierce pursued his musical studies in the Bos- ton Conservatory of Music and in Europe, and after his return to the United States he held for two years the position of principal of the piano department of the musical con- servatory of the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware.
In September, 1894, Mr. Pierce came to Indianapolis and identified himself with the school of music that was then conducted on Monument place, and in January of the fol- lowing year he was one of the founders of the Metropolitan School of Music, of which institution he was a director. In 1907, he founded the College of Musical Art, of which he is now president.
Mr. Pierce. with the advantages of fine classical education, foreign travel and study, and distinctive talent as a pianist, has made a specialty of lecture recitals, through which he has been able to give classical embellish- ment to the literary and interpretive side of the musical art, thus promoting deeper ob- jective appreciation and bringing about more adequate conception of the musical form and expression. In this particular field his serv- ices have been much in requisition by musical and literary clubs and other organizations.
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He has appeared before various state musical associations, and has twice served as chair- man of the program committee of the Indiana Music Teachers' Association. He has had the distinction of being soloist with orchestral ac- companiment at two May musical festivals in Indianapolis, and in the same way he has played on various other occasions of equal importance and interest. In December, 1898, he was piano soloist with Van der Stuken's orchestra at the time of its appearance before the Ohio State Music Teachers' Association.
In politics Mr. Pierce is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the principles and pol- icies for which the Republican party stands sponsor in a generic way, but in local affairs, where no issues are involved, he is indepen- dent of strict partisan lines. He is identified with the Columbia Club of Indianapolis, and in the Masonic fraternity he has attained to the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite, is past commander of Raper Commandery. No. 1, Knights Templar, besides being identified with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in which he holds membership in Murat, Temple, of Indianapolis.
ALBERT E. METZGER. Among the sterling citizens and aggressive business men who stand exponent of that loyalty and progressive spirit that have conserved the development of the larger and greater Indianapolis, Albert E. Metzger occupies a place of no insignificant prestige, and he has been identified with vari- ous and very important enterprises that have had marked influence in furthering the indus- trial and commercial advancement of the cap- ital city. He represents a distinctive power in local financial circles and is at this time president of the German American Trust Com- pany, which exercises beneficent functions and is fortified by all that is reliable in executive control and capitalistic reinforcement, being es- sentially one of the leading and strongest insti- tutions of its kind in the state of Indiana.
Albert E. Metzger is a native of Indian- apolis and this city has represented his home from the time of his nativity to the present- an interval marked by large and worthy ac- complishment on his part. Mr. Metzger was born on the 20th of March, 1865, and is a son of Alexander and Wilhelmina (Elbracht) Metzger, both of whom were born and reared in Germany, whence thev immigrated by sail- boat to America in 1847, landing in the city of. New Orleans and thence proceeding by boat up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cin- cinnati, where they maintained their home for three years, at the expiration of which thev removed to Indianapolis, which was then a
small and inconspicuous city, though one whose future possibilities appealed to Mr. Metzger, who remained one of its loyal and honored citi- zens until his death, which occurred on the 4th day of August, 1890. He identified himself thoroughly with the business and civic activ- ities of the Hoosier capital and to him belongs the distinction of having here established the first steam bakery in the state of Indiana. He had learned the baker's trade in his father- land and having worked under Peter F. Bryce at that time in Cincinnati was well for- tified for the handling of the enterprise which he thus established in Indianapolis, then a small village. He was endowed with marked pragmatic ability, indefatigable energy and sterling integrity of purpose, so that he soon gained precedence as one of the successful and substantial business men of.the city. The bak- ery, which he founded, was located on the site of the present Aetna building, on North Penn- sylvania street, and he conducted a large and prosperous business for a long term of years, eventually disposing of the plant and business to Parrott, Nickum & Company, who continued the business for many years, until it was ab- sorbed by the National Biscuit Company. Upon retiring from this line of enterprise in 1863 Alexander Metzger laid the foundation of a general financial agency which, after forty-five years of effective service, was finally reorgan- ized as the German American Trust Company. of which his son, Albert E., has been president from the time of incorporation in 1906. In 1865 Alexander Metzger associated himself with August and Henry Schnull, Volney T. Malott, David Macy, and Ferdinand Beck as directors in the organization of the Merchants' National Bank, which has since become one of the strongest finan- cial institutions of our state. He built up a large and important business in the local financial field, and ever commanded the unquali- fied confidence and esteem of the community, as his business affairs were ordered and directed according to the strictest principles of integrity and fairness and his personal characteristics were those indicative of sterling manhood. He did much to further the best interests and the material and civic advancement of the capital city and was one of its well known and in- fluential citizens up to the time of his demise. The widow of Alexander Metzger is still living, having celebrated her 80th birthday August 3, 1909.
Albert E. Metzger, whose name introduces this review, was afforded the advantages of the excellent public schools of Indianapolis, and after his graduation in the high school he was matriculated in Cornell University, at Ithaca.
HISTORY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS.
New York, in which he completed the pre- seribed course in science and letters and was graduated as a member of the class of 1888. While a student in the high school and in the university, Mr. Metzger manifested much inter- est in athletics and military affairs, and though only two years of military training were com- pulsory at Cornell University, his interest in this department was such that he enjoyed the full four years of military work, in connection with which he became, major-of the university battalion. It should be noted that Mr. Metz- ger's kindly interest and fond solicitation for his alma mater has never waned since his grad- uation. Lately he was elected a member of the Cornell Council, the governing body of the alumni, and since its organization has been president of the Indiana Cornell Alumni As- sociation.
After leaving the university Mr. Metzger re- turned to Indianapolis, with whose business and civic activities he has since been concerned in a most definite and influential way, espe- cially in connection with the promotion and conducting of financial institutions of the high- est grade. He became associated with his father in business and soon developed marked acumen and versatility as a financier and ex- ecutive. The business established by his father was conducted under the title of A. Metzger Agency for many years, and this enterprise was the virtual nueleus around which has been built up the stanch and extensive business of the German American Trust Company.
In 1896 Albert E. Metzger became associated with Herman Lieber, Charles N. Thompson, Allan Fletcher, Frank M. Fauvre and others in the organization and incorporation of the Ma- rion Trust Company, and for several years thereafter he was a valued member of its directorate and also its executive committee. In 1900 Mr. Metzger became associated with John Perrin, Herman Lieber and others in the organization of the American National Bank of Indianapolis, of which he was one of the organizers and incorporators and of which he was a director during the first five years of the existence of the institution. He re- tired from this directorate in 1906, at which time he effected the organization of the German American Trust Company, of which he has been president from the time of incorporation and to whose interests he has since given the major portion of his time and attention.
Mr. Metzger resigned his position as a men- ber of the directorate of the American Na- tional Bank in order to devote his undivided time and attention to the affairs of the German American Trust Company. Upon his retire- ment from his active administrative associa-
tion with the affairs of the American National Bank the following resolution presented by the president was adopted by its board of directors, under date of July 14, 1906:
"Resolved, That, in accepting the resigna- tion from this board which Albert E. Metzger has offered in anticipation of serving as the president of another financial institution, we set forth in our minutes an expression of our personal regret at the discontinuance of this association with him and of gratitude on be- half of the bank for the zealous and efficient service which he has freely rendered from the day of its organization to the present."
His able and discriminating administrative policy has been potent in making the German American Trust Company one of the great financial and fiduciary concerns of the middle west, and he has gained priority as one of the able and influential financiers of his native city and state, where he has ever maintained an in- violable hold upon popular confidence and es- teem.
As a citizen Mr. Metzger has stood exponent of the utmost loyalty and public spirit, and it has been to him a matter of pleasure and un- qualified satisfaction to lend his aid and influ- ence in the promotion of all legitimate meas- ures and enterprises tending to conserve the best interests of his home city and state. He was prominently identified with promotion and financing of the corporation through which nat- ural gas service was secured to Indianapolis, and later, after the failure of the natural gas resources, he was one of the most attractive workers for the securing to the people of the capital city proper artificial gas service at rea- sonable rates. He thus became treasurer of the Gas Consumers' League, which was subse- quently reorganized as the Citizens' Gas Com- pany, of which latter he was one of the organ- izers and a member of the first board of di- rectors. Mr. Metzger was also a director of the German Manual Training School, which was finally absorbed by the present Manual Training High School maintained by the city, under the direct administration of the Board of Education. It is interesting to record that the German Manual Training School men- tioned was that from which the present city school of like character has been developed- a valuable acquisition to the public educational system of the city. The original training school was conducted for twelve years at the old German-English school building on Mary- land street, just east of Delaware street.
In the field of practical philanthropy the aid and influence of Mr. Metzger have been potent in an earnest and unassuming way, and among the more noteworthy causes in which he
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has thus been enlisted is that of the Indianapo- lis Boys' Club Association, which was estab- lished for boys of limited opportunities and which now has a well equipped club house at the corner of South Meridian street and Mad- ison avenue. The work of the noble institution was initiated in 1892, and he was one of the organizers. The generous support accorded by its promoters and other representative citizens of Indianapolis have made it a wonderful power for good in providing opportunities for news- boys and other boys who would otherwise be denied such advantages. Mr. Metzger has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of and worker in this association, of whose finance committee he is chairman, and of which Hon. Thomas R. Marshall, governor of the state, is president.
Mr. Metzger was one of the charter mem- bers of the Commercial Club, which has stood representative of high civic ideals and done much to further the industrial and commer- cial upbuilding of Indianapolis, and he was a member of the directorate of this organiza- tion during the first eight years of its exist- ence, afterwards becoming vice-president. He is now chairman of its Committee on Educa- tion, as well as a member of the Committee for Civic Improvement and the Committee on Charity Organizations, and is a valued mem- ber also of the Board of Trade, of whose board of governors he was a valued member for some time. He is a member of the Columbia Club and the German House, of whose Building and Savings institution he has been president for fifteen (15) years.
On the 6th day of February, 1892, Mr. Metz- ger was married to Miss Frances Mueller, of New Ulm, Minnesota, who was the first supervisor of physical training in the public schools of Indianapolis, an office which she conducted with eminent success a number of years. She was born in Minnesota and is a daughter of Jacob Mueller and Frances (Schuetze) Mueller, the lat- ter of whom is still living. The four children of this union are: Margaret, Alexander, Nor- man and Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger are distinctively prominent and popular in con- nection with the best social activities of the capital city, and their attractive home is known for its gracious hospitality. Mrs. Metz- ger has been prominently and earnestly iden- tified with the principal charitable enterprises of Indianapolis, and for many years she was incumbent of the office of president of the German Ladies' Aid Society, whose work has been of the most beneficent and kindly order.
GEORGE WOLF. This well known and dis- tinctively popular citizen has maintained his home in Indianapolis for more than thirty- five years, having come here when a youth and having, through his own efforts, gained prestige as one of the substantial business men of the capital city. He has served in offices of public trust, has ever been loyal to the interests of his home city, and has reason to be proud of the success he has achieved in the land to which he came from his German fatherland when eighteen years of age. He is now engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, having his office headquarters at 221 and 222 Lemeke build- ing.
George Wolf was born in Dietkirchen, Prov- ince of Hessen-Nassau, Germany, on the 8th of July, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary (Roos) Wolf, of whose thirteen children he was the fourth in order of birth; of the number, eight are now living, four being resi- dents of the United States. The father was a well-to-do farmer and worthy citizen and passed his entire life in Germany, where his venerable widow still maintains her home. The subject of this sketch was afforded the advantages of the excellent schools of his na- tive province and was graduated in the gym- nasium, corresponding to the American high school, at the age of eighteen years. He soon afterward, in 1873, set forth to win for him- self a position of independence in America, which has gained much from the element contributed to its social fabric by the great empire of Germany. He first located in the City of Philadelphia, where he remained near- Iv two years, within which he secured a good command of the English language, and he then, in 1875, came to Indianapolis, which city has represented his home during prac- tically the entire intervening period, marked by steady and substantial progress on his part. Upon his arrival in the Indiana capital Mr. Wolf secured employment as clerk in a grocery store, and after a period of about five years he engaged in the grocery business on his own responsibility, his store having been located at No. 225 South Illinois street. He continued to be identified with this line of enterprise until 1887, when he sold his business and assumed a clerical position in the office of the county auditor. He was thus engaged until 1890, when recognition of his ability and effective service was accorded by his election to the office of city and town- ship assessor. He gave himself faithfully, conscientiously and with marked discrimina-
Vol. II-6
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HISTORY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS.
tion to the work of this position and con- tinued incumbent of the office for a period of five years, within which he gained an intimate and exact knowledge of real estate values, es- pecially in the immediate field of his jurisdic- tion.
After retiring from the office of assessor, in 1895, Mr. Wolf turned his attention to the real estate, loan and insurance business, and he has built up a substantial business in those lines. His knowledge of values has brought his services into requisition in con- nection with the appraising of real estate and other advisory interests, and he is well and favorably known in local business circles, as well as those of social order, the while it may be said that his coterie of friends is equal in number to that of his acquaintances.
'Taking a loyal interest in all that concerns his home city, Mr. Wolf keeps in touch with public affairs, and his political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Commercial Club, with which he has been identified for nearly two score of years, and is also a valued member of the Indianapolis Board of Trade and the Indiana Democratie Club. He and his wife are com- municants of the Catholic Church, being mem- bers of St. Mary's parish, and he also holds membership in St. Joseph's Aid Society and is actively affiliated with the Knights of Co- lumbus.
In St. Mary's Church, this city, on the 7th of January, 1880, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Wolf to Miss Josephine Itten- bach, a daughter of the late Gerhard Itten- bach, who was a prominent business man of Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf became the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are living.
JAMES M. HUME. In a review of the ca- reers of the pioneer business men of Indian- apolis, it is proper that recognition be given James Madison Hume, who was a conspicu- ous figure in the early business history of the city. He was a representative figure in busi- ness life for many years and gained success through his own well directed efforts. Pro- gressive and loyal in both private and public affairs, he proved a valuable citizen, and he so directed his course as to retain at all times the confidence and esteem of his fellow men, while through his influence and his business operations he contributed materially to the progress and prestige of the city which was so long his home and the center of his in- terests.
James Madison Hume. a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Indiana, was born on a farm in Dearborn County, in this state,
on the 1st of October, 1830, and was a son of Rev. Madison and Eliza (Bowers) Hume, both of whom were Kentuekians. The geneal- ogy is traeed back to Scottish origin, and the family was one of distinction and prominence, belonging to the historic Scottish house of Wedderburn. One of his descendants, a Cove- nanter, came to America in the colonial days and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania. So intense, although bigoted, was his religious zeal that he changed his name to Humes, to avoid the possibility of being asso- ciated by people in any way with Hume, the English historian, who was an infidel.
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