Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes, Part 97

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 97

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In 1880 Mr. Laycock identified himself with the industrial enterprise in which he has gained so distinctive success, becoming inter- ested in a concern engaged in the manu- facturing of spring beds, in Kentucky, and in 1886 he also became associated with his father- in-law, Thomas H. Bradford, in the retail hardware business at Washington. On the 1st of January of that year he came to Indian- apolis and made preparations for the manufac- turing of spring beds upon a more extensive scale. He organized the T. B. Laycock Manu-

facturing Company, and the first location of the concern was in modest quarters at 80 South Pennsylvania- street. From this small nucleus has been evolved the splendid enterprise that is now conceded to be one of the largest of its kind in the Union, throughout the most di- verse section of which the trade of the com- pany extends. In 1906, to meet the constantly growing demands placed upon the manufactory, Mr. Laycock purchased a tract of land just to the north of Brookside Park, and there erected the present fine plant of the company. The main building, of brick, concrete and steel construction, is eight hundred and eighty-two by two hundred and seventy feet in dimensions, and is one of the model factory buildings of the country. The plant has its own water- works system, including the most improved sprinkling system for fire protection; bath and toilet rooms of modern equipment are provided for the employes, as well as a fine library and a dining room, in which latter excellent service is given at a nominal cost. The employes num- ber about four hundred and they have shown deep appreciation of the splendid provisions made for their comfort and pleasure. It may be said that these facilities are excelled by those of few if any manufacturing establish- ments in the country. Mr. Laycock has the general management of the business, in which he has the controlling interest, and, as already stated, his honored and venerable father is pres- ident of the company, while he himself is sec- retary and treasurer.

In 1906 Mr. Lavcock organized the Laycock Power House Company, which is incorporated under the laws of the state, with a capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and which has an investment of about half a mil- lion dollars. This company erected, 'at Tenth and Canal streets, the Industrial building, which is of the most approved type of modern architectural construction and which covers an entire city block. Thus the great building, substantially constructed of brick, stone and cement, and five stories in height, has four hundred thousand square feet of floor space, and in its facilities it stands essentially unique in the fine industrial city in which it is locat- ed. This Industrial building represents in it- self a great manufacturing center, as it was de- vised for and is used by various manufacturing concerns, which rent space as demanded and are supplied with power from the fine central plant of the building. Mr. Laycock is both president and general manager of the company. He is a stockholder and director of the Colum- bia National Bank and is a valued member of the Indianapolis Board of Trade, of whose board of governors he is a member. He is iden-

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tified also with the Commercial Club, and as a loyal and progressive citizen he is thoroughly in sympathy with the high civic ideals and practical work of these two important insti- tutions.

Mr. Laycock is essentially a self-made man, and the title is one of which any man may be proud. His successful business career is. but the logical sequence of earnest and forceful ef- forts, intelligently directed along normal lines of enterprise, and is indicative of his charac- ter. His career affords both lesson and incen- tive to the ambitious young men who would emulate his example. Naturally he is recog- nized as one of the representative business men of Indianapolis, and he takes deep pride in his home city.

Mr. Laycock takes a loyal interest in the fur- therance of good government, but in politics he maintains an independent attitude, giving his support to men and measures meeting the ap- proval of his judgment, irrespective of partisan dictation .. He is actively identified with reli- gious work and with service tending to elevate the moral tone of the community. He is a valued member of the directorate of the In- dianapolis Young Men's Christian Association and was a member of the building committee under whose effective direction was recently completed the magnificent new building of the association. This structure, one of the best in the country, represents an outlay of four hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars and was dedi- cated in 1909. Mr. Laycock and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Third Christian Church, and he has held membership in this denomination since he was fifteen years of age. He is a member of the board of trus- tees of the church and also of the ministerial relief board of the generic Christian Church or- ganization in the United States. He was for- merly a member of the board of trustees of But- ler University, at Irvington, a suburb of In- dianapolis, this institution being conducted un- der the auspices of the Christian Church. In a fraternal way Mr. Laycock is affiliated with Liverpool Lodge, No. 110, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Washington, this state.

On the 16th of January, 1879, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Laycock to Miss Mary Frances Bradford, who was born at Washing- ton, Indiana, on the 25th of September, 1857, and who is a daughter of Thomas Hamilton Bradford and Martha (Read) Bradford, both natives of Daviess County, Indiana, and mem- bers of old and honored pioneer families of this commonwealth. Mr. Bradford was long num- bered among the representative business men and influential citizens of Washington, where both he and his wife continued to reside until

their death, and the names of both are in- scribed on the roll of the honored and revered pioneer citizens of that section of the state.

In conclusion is entered brief record con- cerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Laycock : Martha Blanche is the wife of William A. Omelvena, of Indianapolis; Read Bradford, who married Miss Lucille Howe, is associated with his father in business; and Mary Dawson, Austin Thomas, and Walter William remain at the parental home. The family is promi- nent in the best social life of the capital city, and the attractive home is a center of gracious hospitality. The honored father of the subject of this review resides with his daughter, Mrs. Ruffin, the venerable gentleman having come to Indianapolis shortly after the son located permanently in this city.

GEORGE F. BASS. During many years George F. Bass was identified with the edu- cational life of Indiana, and his name is also enrolled among the efficient educators of In- dianapolis, but he finally resigned from the profession to engage in architectural work. He was born in Bartholomew County, In- diana, November 19, 1845, a son of Thomas Bass and a grandson of Nathan Bass. The last named was born in Virginia November 4, 1775, and moving to Kentucky in an early day spent many years there, the latter part of his life being devoted to agricultural pur- suits. He died on the 7th of September, 1849, a worthy member of the Baptist Church. He married in Kentucky December 20, 1796, Ruhama Price, who was born in New Jersey, September 30, 1777, and died October 21, 1853. Of the 'eleven children which were born of their union all lived to man and womanhood and raised families. Thomas W. Bass, the last born of their chil- dren, was a native of Kentucky, born July 29, 1819, and he became a miller, carpenter and farmer, while politically he was identified first with the Whigs and later with that party's successor, the Republicans, voting for both Harrisons for presidents. He married on the 16th of February, 1845, Mary J. Crane, who was born in Franklin County, Indiana, October 4, 1824, and died on the 20th of January, 1905. George F. was the first born of their five children, all yet living. The father passed away on the 18th of Feb- ruary, 1895.

George F. Bass attended the Northwestern Christian University, now Butler College, and in 1866 taught his first school, which was in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Afterward he taught in ten different counties of the state, his educational work covering in all twenty-seven years, and his last school was in

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Indianapolis, where he served as supervising principal. He retired from the profession in June, 1893, after winning a high place for himself in its ranks, and after serving in seventy-eight counties of the state in teach- er's institutes. He passed from a profes- sional to a business life, taking up the work of an architect.

Mr. Bass married Miss Emma V. Wickard July 27, 1870. She was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 10, 1855, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Randall) Wickard, na- tives respectively of Ohio and of Danville, Vermont. Mrs. Bass was the third born of their eight children, and she became the mother of eight, of whom the five now living are Walt G., Herbert L., Mamie L., Helen A. and Elsie F. Mr. Bass is a member of the Century Club and was its president for one term. He is at present connected with the firm of Herbert L. Bass & Co., Architects, Indianapolis, Indiana.

BRANDT C. DOWNEY, the cashier of the Con- tinental National Bank of Indianapolis, is a well known and popular figure in the finan- cial circles of his native city and his train- ing and natural predilections have made him specially successful as an executive in his chosen field of endeavor.

Mr. Downey was born in Indianapolis on the 17th of February, 1873, and is a son of William B. and Flora (Elliott) Downey, the former of whom was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and the latter in Vermillion County, Indiana, her death having occurred in Indianapolis, on the 15th of September, 1901. . William B. Downey was a child at the time of his parents' removal from Ohio to Rush County, Indiana, where they took up their residence in the year 1841 and where he was reared and educated. He was among the leal and loyal sons of the republic who enlisted for service in the Union army at the time of President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, having enlisted in the Third In- diana Volunteer Cavalry, with which gallant command he served three years and three months, within which he participated in many of the important engagements marking the progress of the great internecine conflict. After the close of the war he removed to Indianapolis, where he became one of the first city mail carriers and where he has main- tained his home during the long intervening years. He is a valued and appreciative mem- ber of George H. Thomas Post, Grand Army of the Republic, is an uncompromising Re- publican in his political proclivities, and is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 319, Free and Accepted Masons. Of

their two children the subject of this review is the elder; Bertrand B. is now a resident of the City of Boston, Massachusetts.

Brandt C. Downey, the immediate subject of this review, was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Indianapolis, after which he continued his studies in turn in Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, and the University of Indiana, at Bloomington.

At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Downey identified himself with the Bradstreet Com- mercial Agency, for which he was a traveling representative for some time, later becoming chief clerk in the Indianapolis office of the concern and finally being appointed superin- tendent of its agency in Quincy, Illinois. In the summer of 1900 he returned to Indian- apolis, where he held a position with the In- dianapolis Water Company for a period of about six months, at the expiration of which he accepted a clerical position in the Ameri- can National Bank, in which institution he won advancement through his discrimination and effective service, being finally promoted to the office of assistant cashier, of which po- sition he was incumbent until August 14, 1909, and came to Continental National Bank as cashier. He is prominent in banking circles, as is evident when it is stated that for two years he held the office of president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Banking and for four years was member of the executive committee of the organization, of which he is vice president at the time of this writing, in 1910.

In politics Mr. Downey is aligned as a stal- wart supporter of the cause of the Republi- can party and he and his wife hold member- ship in the Central Avenue Methodist Episco- pal Church. He is a member of the Com- mercial and Marion Clubs and is a director of the former. In the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with Ancient Landmarks Lodge No. 319, Free and Accepted Masons, being worshipful master; Keystone Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons; Raper Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar; Indiana Sovereign Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, of the Ancient Accepted Scottish 'Rite; and Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is president of the northern division of the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity, which division covers the states of Wisconsin, In- diana, Ohio, and Virginia, and he is also identified with the alumni association at In- dianapolis.

On the 25th of June, 1902, Mr. Downey was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Bow- man, who was born at Knightstown, this

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state, being a daughter of William and Lydia Bowman, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a representative business man of Knightstown for many years and he there retained his residence until 1888, when he re- moved with his family to Indianapolis, where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives.

ANDREW J. MCINTOSH was born in Wash- ington County, Indiana, October 8, 1841, a son of John and Sarah (Barnett) McIntosh, both of whom were born in Crawford County, Indiana, the father in 1819 and the mother in 1821. He was a blacksmith in his younger days, but later became a hotel proprietor in New Albany, and continued the business for fifty years or more, passing to his final reward in 1908. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics was first a Whig and later a Republican.

Andrew J. McIntosh, the second born of their seven children, was eleven years of age when the family moved to New Albany, and his educational training was completed in its public schools. His first identification with business life was in carrying water to the men engaged in the construction of the Louisville & New Albany Railroad, and from that hum- ble position he rose successively to train boy, brakeman, freight conductor and passenger conductor, and when the line became the Chi- cago, Indianapolis & Cincinnati Railroad, the Monon Route, he in 1869 engaged in the mer- cantile business at Salem, this state. He con- tinned in the' general mercantile and flour mill- ing business until elected the sheriff of Wash- ington County in 1882. Mr. McIntosh also served as a deputy revenue collector under President Cleveland for eight counties in In- diana, and coming to Indianapolis in 1891 he embarked in the real estate business, in which he is now engaged and also in looking after his own realty interests. He married Sarah E. De- Pauw November 18, 1868. She was born at Salem, in Washington County, Indiana, in the same house in which her five children were also born, a daughter of Washington C. and Sarah (Malott) DePanw. The children are Charles DePauw, of Los Angeles, California ; Sadie E., wife of Morris H. Raschig, of Indianapolis; "Eva, wife of Thaddeus E. Houston, also of Indianapolis ; Nellie G. and Wilbur Carlin, of Okemah, Oklahoma. Mrs. McIntosh died De- cemher 15, 1902. Mr. McIntosh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was made a Mason at New Albany in Lodge No. 104 in 1864, and he also became a member of New Albany Chapter No. 7, R. A. M., and New Albany Commandery No. 5, K. T. He upholds the principles of the Democratic party.

ALFRED FREMONT POTTS, who is perhaps the most notable practical advocate of the promo- tion of public works by united public effort that Indianapolis has had, is a native of Indiana, born at Richmond, October 29, 1856. He is a son of Dr. Alfred Potts, who died while serv- ing as an army surgeon during the Civil War. He had the educational advantages of the com- mon schools until twelve years of age, after which he made his own way in the world, and was self-educated. Adopting the profession of law, he was admitted to the bar in Marion County, by courtesy, in 1876, while still under age. In 1877 he formed a partnership with John L. Griffiths, since widely known as Re- porter of the Supreme Court and Consul Gen- eral at London, and this partnership continued for twenty-five years. The energy of the young partners naturally led them into criminal prac- tice, and cansed them to undertake some cases of an almost hopeless character ; but they man- aged them with such skill, and so great zeal, that they soon built up a large general practice. Later Mr. Griffiths became absorbed in poli- tics, and Mr. Potts, following a natural bent, became interested in the promotion of corporate enterprises and works of public utility, and the law business was gradually abandoned.

It was indeed fortunate for Indianapolis that this change came. Mr. Potts leaped into prom- inence in 1887 as the originator and chief pro- moter of the Consumers Gas Trust Co. Its object was the protection of the public against the monopolization of the natural gas supply through a service system paid for by public subscription, and controlled by a permanent board of trustees for the public benefit. It proved a complete success, resisting all efforts at manipulation, and forcing a competition that saved the people of the city approximately $1,000,000 annually for fifteen years. When the supply of natural gas was exhausted, Mr. Potts was the first to suggest the application of the same system to the supply of artificial gas, and the utilization of the Consumers pipe lines for this purpose. He led in the long struggle to secure this result, and, with the public-spirited citizens who joined in the effort, succeeded in controlling the situation. The Citizens Gas Company was organized, and ae- cured the old Consumers property, and as a direct result of this the price of artificial gas has been reduced to 60 cents per thousand, the lowest rate existing in any city in the United States.

This was but one line of his activities. He was one of the original promoters of The Com- mercial Club, of which he served for several vears as a director, and one term as president. Among other enterprises which he was instru-

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mental in organizing or securing for the city were the Law Building, the Claypool Hotel, the New Board of Trade Building, and the American and Union National Banks. He showed his faith in the theory of civic beauti- fication by taking the square of Fifteenth street between Delaware and Alabama, and changing it from a region of unsightly edifices to a pleasant residence district filled with artis- tic modern homes. He has also labored for the culture of the city, being especially active in the Century and Contemporary Clubs, of both of which he has served as president. On the whole he has achieved the commendable ambi- tion to be a good citizen, and contribute some- thing to the general welfare.

In 1879 Mr. Potts was married to Miss May Barney, of Indianapolis, who is quite as popu- lar as her husband. Their children are Mar- jorie, wife of Walter Vonnegut, and Miss Deb- ora.

CHESTER BRADFORD. Not only has Mr. Brad- ford attained success and prestige as a mem- ber of the bar, and particularly in special prac- tice as a patent attorney, but he has also achieved such precedence through his own ef- forts, having been in the most significant sense the architect of his own fortunes, he having been dependent upon his own resources from his early youth as he was doubly orphaned when less than sixteen years of age. He is one of the well known and highly honored citizens of Indianapolis, where he has been engaged in the successful practice of his profession since the year 1876. He left his native state in 1871, and after brief periods of residence in New York, Minnesota and Wisconsin came to Indianapolis in July 1874.

The genealogy of Mr. Bradford in the ag- natic line is traced back to distinguished source, as he is a descendant of the renowned William Bradford, the second signer of the Mayflower compact, and also the second governor of Ply- mouth colony, this historic character having been born in 1588. The direct line of descent is noted in the following list, in which the names and respective dates of birth are given : William Bradford (II), June 17, 1624; Sam- nel Bradford, 1668; Gamaliel Bradford, May 18, 1704; Peter Bradford, June 2, 1745; Mar- tin Bradford, September 22, 1790, and Charles Gamaliel Bradford, April 28, 1814. Thus the name borne by the subject of this review has been long and conspicuously identified with the annals of American history, and he has reason to feel pride in reverting to the lives and deeds of those who have dignified and honored the patronymic and rendered fruitful service in connection with public, professional and busi- ness affairs in our republic.

Chester Bradford was born near St. Albans, Somerset County, Maine, on the 3d of May, 1852, and the family was early founded in the old Pine Tree State. His father, Charles Ga- maliel Bradford, the date of whose nativity ap- pears in the foregoing genealogical category, was likewise a native of Maine, having been born at Vassalboro, and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Prentiss, was born at South China, in that state, on the 20th of July, 1823; their marriage was solemnized on the 15th of October, 1850, and of their five children the subject of this review is the eldest, and one of the three surviving. The father gave his attention principally to the great basic indus- try of agriculture during his active career, and his death occurred when the eldest son, Ches- ter, was under sixteen years of age, his devoted wife having been summoned to the life eternal about one year previously. Both were affiliated with the Methodist Church and were folk of sterling worth of character. In the maternal line the genealogy is traced to Valentine Pren- tiss, who came from England, and settled at Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1631. Following is a list of the respective heads of the family in the succeeding generations in line of direct de- scent to Mrs. Mary (Prentiss) Bradford ; John born prior to the family immigration to Amer- ica ; Valentine (II), born about 1680; Joseph, January 20, 1715; Valentine (III), March 26, 1747; Jesse, February 2, 1785; and Mary (Prentiss) Bradford, July 20, 1823. Full and authentic data concerning the Bradford and Prentiss genealogies are to be found in the "New England Historical-Genealogical Regis- ter"; Baylie's "History of New Plymouth"; and "The Prentiss-Prentice Family", by C. J. F. Binney.

Chester Bradford was afforded the advan- tages of the common schools of his native state, and passed his boyhood and early youth on the home farm, in whose work he early began to lend his aid. As before stated, he was un- der sixteen years of age when deprived of the care and guidance of his parents, and shortly after the death of his father he suffered a se- vere illness, after recuperating from which he found it incumbent upon him to provide large- ly for his own maintenance, so that he was un- able to secure a collegiate education. None who know him, however, can fail to realize that he has admirably overcome this handicap of early years, as he devoted himself to well- directed private study, profited to the utmost from the lessons learned under that wisest of all head masters, experience, and stands today as a, man of broad intellectual attainments and distinctive professional ability.

As a boy Mr. Bradford was signally devoted

---- -

Chester Bradford.

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to books, and he believes that his predilection for the law was in considerable degree fostered by his having purchased, in his seventeenth year, from a canvassing agent, a copy of a book entitled "Laws of Business", by the late Pro- fessor Theophilus Parsons of Harvard Uni- versity. He read this publication carefully and studiously, and thoroughly familiarized himself with its contents. He also has ever had a taste and talent for mechanics, and this may have had a certain influence in bringing about his selection of the patent law as his. special field of professional work. After leav- ing school he gave his attention to such occu- pations as would afford him a livelihood, and shortly after attaining to his legal majority he perfected an invention on which he secured a patent. In the following year he prepared one or two patent applications for others, and shortly thereafter he entered in a regular way the practice of the profession of solicitor of patents, in the meanwhile devoting his other- wise leisure time to a comprehensive study of patent Jaw. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar, and since that time he has continued without interruption in the successful prac- tice of his profession. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States on the 24th of October, 1892, upon the mo- tion of Hon. W. H. H. Miller, who was then Attorney General of the United States. Thus his facilities in the practice of his special branch of his profession are of the highest or- der, and he has standing as one of the lead- ing patent attorneys of the middle west. He has handled a large amount of important and intricately technical work in connection with his special line of practice, and in his success has been shown his wide range of knowledge concerning the patent laws and their provisions, as well as his admirable facility in the prac- tical application of such information. Hc has maintained his home in Indianapolis since his arrival in 1874, and here his professional clientage is of an essentially representative or- der. He is a progressive and loyal citizen, and manifests much interest in all that tends to conserve the material and civic advance- ment of his home city. He is one of the prin- cipal stockholders in the Climax Machinery Company, which represents one of the pros- perous industrial enterprises of the capital city.

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Greater Indianapolis : the history, the industries, the institutions, and the people of a city of homes, Part 97

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