USA > Indiana > Vigo County > Terre Haute > Greater Terre Haute and Vigo County : closing the first century's history of city and county, showing the growth of their people, industries and wealth > Part 10
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It was in his native, city of Poland, where he was born July 20, 1882, that Dr. James E. Elliott attained to manhood's estate and received in the main his literary education. He attended the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis four years and received his degree in 1904. In May of that year he came from there to Terre Haute, and for one year was an interne at St. Anthony's Hospital. Since then he has been engaged in the active general practice of his profession. He is a member
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lonox and Tildon Foundations. 1909
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of the Vigo County Medical Society and of the Esculapian Medical So- ciety of the Wabash Valley, and has fraternal relations with the Knights of Pythias.
In 1906 Dr. Elliott married Miss Kathryne Dietz, of Terre Haute. He is a Democrat and a member of the Presbyterian church.
EDWARD E. LAWRENCE .- A leading citizen of Terre Haute for over a quarter of a century, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the present assessor of Vigo county, as well as president and general manager of the Terre Haute Laundry Company. He is a native of Clark county, Illinois, where he was born in 1844, and is a son of James and Sarah A. (Handy) Lawrence. The father was a native of Massachusetts, a graduate of Andover College and a civil engineer by profession, while his mother, who was an Illinois woman, taught school for many years in her native state. In 1840, while a young man and early in his profes- sional career, James Lawrence came to the state of Illinois, and soon after- ward was employed on the survey of what was then known as the "Brough" line, now the Vandalia Railroad. As one of the party who made the preliminary survey, he walked from Terre Haute to the Mis- sissippi river, bearing a compass and level, and later assisted in securing the right-of-way for the road.
Notwithstanding his youth, during a portion of the Civil war Edward E. Lawrence served in the provost marshal's office, being stationed at Marshall, Illinois. Later he entered the ranks and served for about seven months, re-enlisting in 1865 and continuing in the faithful discharge of his duties as a private until the close of the Rebellion. After the war he returned to Marshall, where he filled various clerical positions until he became a resident of Terre Haute in 1868. His first employment in this city was as manager of a boarding house and wagon yard, and after being thus engaged for two years he learned the baker's trade, subse- quently engaging successfully in the business. He conducted a bakery and confectionery, on an expanding and profitable basis, from 1870 to 1894, when he sold the combined business and established the Terre Ilaute Laundry Company, later incorporated under the name of the Terre Haute Laundry and Dyeing Company. This is now one of the most substantial institutions in the city. Mr. Lawrence effciently served as assessor of Vigo county from 1900 to 1906, and in the latter year was re-elected for a term of four years. These facts speak without comment.
In 1868 Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage with Elizabeth White, of Terre Haute, and they have become the parents of two sons- Fred J., who is vice president and foreman of the company named. and M. Roy, who is its secretary and treasurer. The mother died in 1888,
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and in 1892 Mr. Lawrence married Miss Mary H. Hedges, also of Terre Haute. Mr. Lawrence is an active member of the State Laundry Asso- ciation, and, as a fraternalist, is identified with the Masonic order and the Grand Army of the Republic. As a business man, a social factor in the community and a citizen and public servant, he is in every way an honor to himself, his family and his city.
CHARLES H. GOLDSMITH is today the oldest commission merchant in' years of continuous connection with this line of business in Terre Haute, having, since 1877, been a representative of this department of com- mercial activity, while for fifteen years he has been at his present loca- tion, No. 934 Wabash avenue. A native of Rochester, New York, he was born January 30, 1847, and resided in the Empire State until seven- teen years of age, when he began railroading. For thirteen years he was connected with the railroad service and on the 4th of September, 1867. arrived in Indianapolis. For a number of years thereafter he was brakeman on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis, now the Vandalia line. so continuing until 1869, when he became connected with the San Fran- cisco line as conductor of a freight train on the eastern division. Later he was with the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad and resigned on the 16th of October, 1877, to engage in his present business. For almost thirty-one years he has been numbered among the commission merchants of Terre Haute and is today the oldest representative of this department of trade. For sixteen years he was located at No. 29 North Fourth street, after which he leased his present property at No. 934 Wabash avenue, being now the owner of the building. He started in a small way as a retail dealer in feed and country produce and later extended the scope of his business by adding fruits. He has resided in Terre Haute continuously since 1875 and has been successfully carrying on business as a commission merchant since 1877.
On the 4th of March, 1869, Mr. Goldsmith was married to Miss Lizzie A. Young and unto them were born three sons: Charies H., Fred C. and Arthur F. The wife and mother died in 1879 and Mr. Goldsmith afterward wedded Miss Mattie E. Sparks, by whom he has one daughter. Eleanor, now the wife of Dr. J. C. Bohn, of Terre Haute. Fraternally he is prominent as a Mason. having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and he is also connected with the Elks. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man generous in spirit, kindly in disposition, progressive in business and in citizenship. During the long years of his residence in Terre Haute he has never selfishly concentrated his energies upon his private interests, but has found time and opportunity for co-
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operation in public affairs which have been directly beneficial to the city. The high position which he occupies in the regard of his fellow men is the merited tribute to his personal worth and the honorable prin- ciples which have actuated him in every relation of life.
CLARENCE R. LABIER. M. D .. a practicing physician of Terre Haute, was born in Vernon county, Missouri, February 6, 1873. He was reared in Nevada, of that county, and graduated from its high school, complet- ing his literary training in Battle Creek College, of Battle Creek, Mich- igan, where he graduated with the class of 1895. He was then well prepared to enter upon the study of medicine, having determined to make its practice his life work, and accordingly matriculated in the medical department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. After spending two years in that well known institution he entered the Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated in 1898. For two years thereafter Dr. LaBier was numbered among the medical practitioners of that city, and from there came to Terre Haute in September of 1899. and has since been actively engaged in practice here. In 1905 he pur- sued a course and graduated in the Post-Graduate College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, Chicago. He is a member of the Vigo County, the Indiana State and the American Medical Associations, and is a member of the staff of physicians and surgeons of Union Hospital. Fraternally he is a member of the Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias. No. 3, Occidental Lodge No. 18, Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees, Red Men, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Fraternal Aid Association and the Security Casualty Company. He gives his political support to the Republican party.
Dr. LaBier married. in 1898, Lilly M. Tressel, and they have one son, Clarence Russell. Dr. LaBier is a member of the Young Business Men's Club of Terre Haute. He is a Presbyterian in his religious faith.
PETER M. FOLEY. a well known member of the Vigo county bar and a leading citizen of Terre Haute, was born at North Vernon, Jen- nings county, Indiana, in 1863. He pursued his education in the com- mon and high schools, passing through consecutive grades, and after completing his studies he entered upon man's work in a clerical position in Washington City, to which he was appointed in 1884. While in the service of the federal government he took up the study of law, which he pursued in Columbian College of Law, Washington, D. C., and when he became thoroughly equipped for the profession he began practice in Terre Haute, joining his brother, Thomas A., in a partnership in 1886. Two years later his brother died and Peter M. Foley was afterward.
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for a number of years, associated with his brother, Joseph C., in the practice of law. In 1903 he formed a partnership with Samuel D. Royse. under the firm name of Foley & Royse. He has enjoyed a good clientage since becoming connected with the legal profession here and is recog- nized as an able lawyer, who neglects not that laborious work of the office which must always precede the forceful presentation of a cause before the courts. His devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, and his understanding of legal principles is comprehensive and exact. His ability is such as to win for him a distinctively representative clientage and he is justly accounted one of the strong members of the legal profes- sion in Terre Haute.
Mr. Foley is also well known in political circles in this part of the state. In May, 1892, he was appointed city attorney, which office he filled acceptably until October, 1894, and was again selected city attorney in May, 1898, to September, 1904, and during that time the city forced the opening of Ohio street across the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad. This. among many other important matters, was taken up during his service. In fact during his incumbency he conducted some very im- portant and complicated litigation, in which the city was involved. A stalwart advocate of the Democracy, he has served as county chairman of the Democratic party, and in the campaign of 1908 is serving as county chairman of the fifth congressional district. He is a man of many excellent qualities, of strong force of character, who has won warm friendships and kindly regard among those with whom he has been as- sociated in his profession, in his political work and in social relations. He is now the Democratic district chairman of the fifth congressional district.
JUDGE SAMUEL C. STIMSON, who for ten years sat upon the superior bench of Indiana and is regarded as one of the most distinguished repre- sentatives of the legal fraternity in Terre Haute, was born in Nobles- ville, Indiana, May 9, 1846. He is a son of the Rev. William N. Stimson, whose birth occurred in Worcester, New York, and who, devoting his life to Christian work, became a home missionary of the Presbyterian church, in which capacity he removed to Indiana in 1835, during its pioneer epoch, establishing a mission at Noblesville. He continued in active connection with the church in this state for many years, having charges at Franklin, Thorntown, Lebanon and other Indiana towns. In 1888 he removed to Portland, Oregon, where he died in 1903, at the very venerable age of ninety-six years. Thus closed a life of great activity and usefulness, in which his influence was of an extended order, while his memory remained as a blessed benediction to all who knew
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him. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary Wilson Johnson, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died in 1848.
Judge Stimson pursued his more advanced education in Wabash College, of which institution he is now a trustee and holds an honorary degree from the college. He prepared for the profession of law as a student in the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1872. He read law while teaching in a semi- nary in Crawfordsville and also in the offices of Richard Dunnegan and Samuel Royse in Terre Haute. Since his admission to the bar in 1872 he has been continuously and actively connected with the profession and in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit, has gained more than local distinction. During the first ten years of his practice he was in partnership with his former preceptor. Mr. Dunnegan, and afterward was a member of different leading law firms until 1907. when the firm of Stimson and Tilley was formed, Judge Stimson being joined by Louis F. Tilley, one of Terre Haute's leading young attorneys. On the Ist of November, 1897, Judge Stimson was appointed to the bench of the superior court to fill a vacancy and was elected to that office in 1898 and again in 1902. His decisions indicate strong men- tality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an un- biased judgment. The successful lawyer and the competent jurist must be a man of well balanced intellect, thoroughly familiar with the law and practice, of comprehensive general mind, clear in reasoning and possessing a self-control that will enable him to lose his individuality. his personal feelings, his prejudices and his peculiarities of disposition in the dignity, impartiality and equity of the office to which life, property, right and liberty must look for protection. Possessing these qualities, Judge Stimson justly merits the high honor which was conferred upon him by his elevation to the court. He is a member of the State Bar Association and was a delegate to the National Bar Association at the convention held in Indianapolis.
Judge Stimson was married in 1873 to Miss Maggie C. Allen, a daughter of the Rev. A. C. Allen, of Indianapolis, who served as chap- lain of Gen. Benjamin Harrison's regiment during the Civil war. The Rev. Allen was the first graduate of Wabash College and became well known in church circles. In 1893 Judge Stimson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died, leaving one son. James Cameron Stimson, now one of Terre Haute's most successful real estate men. The Judge's second marriage was to Miss Stella C. Courtright, a daugh- ter of the Rev. Calvin Courtright. a minister of the Presbyterian church, now residing in Oakland, California. There are two children of this marriage: Margaret Elizabeth and Stuart Courtright. Judge Stimson
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having spent his entire life in Indiana is well known throughout the state, and wherever known is honored and respected by reason of his personal attributes as well as his professional attainments. His life has been varied in service, constant in honor, fearless in conduct and stain- less in reputation.
FRANTZ BROGNIEZ, superintendent, brewmaster, and a director of the People's Brewing Company, of Terre Haute, is a member of a family who have been brewers of beer for generations, his father, grand- father and great-grandfather having been expert brewers, and it was under his father's able instructions that he learned the business. He was born at Baume, Belgium, October 26, 1860, and his educational training embraced a course in the arts and sciences at the University of Louvain. In 1884 he established a brewery at Lichterville, Belgium, and in con- nection with this brewery was a school or scientific institute for teaching the art of brewing, and this institution has since become quite famous. .
In August, of 1896. Mr. Brogniez left his native land for the United States and located in Detroit, Michigan, where he at once began the erection of the brewery now owned by the Tivoli Brewing Company. The buildings were completed and put in operation in the spring of 1897, and the brewery was afterward enlarged and is now one of the largest establishments of its kind in Detroit. But after severing his connection with the Tivoli Brewing Company in April. 1904, Mr. Brogniez came in the following December to Terre Haute to take charge of the erection of the People's Brewing Company's plant, which was completed under his supervision and along his ideas. The first brew was made on the 18th of May, 1905, and the first beer delivered to customers on the 3Ist of July following. The capacity of the plant at first was twenty-five thou- sand barrels annually, but it was not long before the company began to increase the capacity and it now has an output of thirty-six thousand barrels annually. It is one of the largest plants of its kind in this part of the state.
Mr. Brogniez was married at Detroit, Michigan, to Alida Grymon- prez, who died in 1903. after becoming the mother of a son and daughter, Frank and Alida. He afterward married in that city, her sister, Alice, and they have one son, Fernand, who was born in Terre Haute. Mr. Brogniez is a member of the Masons, Elks. Eagles, the German Club and the Young Business Men's Club.
CHARLES GERSTMEYER, M. D., whose life work is of large benefit to his fellow men has, in the practice of medicine and surgery, given proof of his marked ability and his thorough understanding of the principles
your's Sincerely
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY Astor, Lonox and Tilden Foundations. 1909
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of the medical science. He is well known as a successful practitioner of Terre Haute and one who in his chosen profession displays close ad- herence to a high standard of professional ethics. A native of Ger- many, he was born in Mayence, on the 30th of January, 1844, his par- ents being August and Elizabeth Braum Gerstmeyer. The father was a well known and leading physician of Terre Haute for many years. He had qualified for the profession and had 'practiced in his native land before emigrating to the new world. Upon coming to the United States in 1852 he located at Richmond, Indiana, where he engaged in practice until 1861, when he removed to Terre Haute, spending his remaining days in this city, his death occurring in 1882, when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife passed away in 1876, at the age of sixty-six years.
Dr. Charles Gerstmeyer largely spent his youth in Richmond, In- diana, where he pursued his education in private schools. He also took up the study of medicine there and after reading under the direction of his father for a time, entered the Ohio Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1867. Since that time he has continuously practiced his profession with success and has gained recognition of his ability in a wide patronage. He was one of the organizers of the Vigo Medical Society and has always believed in maintaining a high standard of effi- cieney among the representatives of the medical fraternity.
FRANK PROX .- One of the largest and best known enterprises of Terre Haute is the Frank Prox Company, and its president and executive head is a native son of Germany, born in Papenburg, Province of Han- over, May 18, 1840, a son of Carl Prox. He received a military train- ing in his native land and served in the Hanover army. At an early age he also learned the coppersmith's trade, and continued its work in Ger- many until his emigration to the United States in 1866. For a time after his arrival in this country he worked at his trade in Cincinnati. Ohio, and from there, in 1869, came to Terre Haute and accepted the position of foreman at the MeGregor distillery, then the property of ITerman Hulman, and thus he continued for six years. In 1875 Mr. Prox formed a partnership with D. W. Watson in the gas fitting. coppersmith- ing and plumbing business, the firm name becoming Watson & Prex. but two years later the junior member withdrew to engage in the same line of business for himself at 677 Main street. His business soon grew to such dimensions as to require larger quarters, and he erected buildings at Nos. 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 North Ninth street, where Hulman & Company later erected their large wholesale establishment. The busi- ness continued to grow so rapidly that still larger quarters were required. and forming a partnership with W. R. MeKeen and John F. Brinkman.
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under the firm name of The Prox & Brinkman Manufacturing Company, they purchased the Phoenix Foundry and Machine Company in 1890, erecting an additional number of large buildings, which occupy a solid block on North Ninth street, from numbers 201 to 234, inclusive. May 16, 1905, John F. Brinkman retired from the business, and on March I, 1902, Mr. Frank Prox purchased the stock of W. R. McKeen, thereby becoming sole owner of the entire plant.
June 20, 1905, the Frank Prox Company was organized, with Mr. Frank Prox as president ; Herman C. Prox, vice president and general manager, and J. Edward Schoemehl, secretary. The company manufac- ture steam and hot water heating boilers and mining machinery, are also jobbers in mill, mine, plumbing, steam and gas fitters' supplies, and do a large volume of business and employ many workmen, the majority of whom are skilled mechanics. Mr. Prox is himself an inventor of some note, and among other things he has invented steam and hot water heating appliances of great value.
He married, October 6, 1868, at Cincinnati, Ohio, Agnes Middendorf, who came from her native land of Germany to the United States when a child with her parents, and they established their home in that city. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Prox are Herman, the vice president and general manager of the Frank Prox Company; Anton, a member of the firm of Prox & Burget Company, plumbers, etc., of Terre Haute; Theo- dore, who died at the age of thirty-one years, and Frank, who died in his infancy, eighteen months old. The family are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Prox is a member of St. Francis' Society, Knights of Columbus, Commercial and Manufacturers' clubs.
EDWARD P. FAIRBANKS, a widely known and prominent citizen of Terre Haute, is a native of the city, born January 3. 1850, son of the late Hon. Henry Fairbanks, an early business man of Terre Haute and mayor of the place. He was educated in its public schools and began his business career in railroad business. After having held a number of important positions in this line, he resigned as general freight agent of the Illinois Midland Railroad and retired from that field of activity. Later he became associated with his brother, Crawford Fairbanks, in different business enterprises, and is so engaged at the present time. He married Miss Helen Gray, daughter of Albert Gray, of Terre Haute, and they have one daughter, Helen Pauline Fairbanks.
HENRY C. STEEG .- Among those who have won distinctive prestige in Terre Haute and have contributed to the success of private life and to public stability is Henry C. Steeg, former mayor, president of the
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People's Brewing Company and vice president of the Reiman & Steeg Company. He is also one of Indiana's native sons, born on a farm at Greencastle Junction (now Limedale), Putnam county. May 1, 1857, and a representative of a family long and prominently identified with the business affairs of that community. They came from Germany in 1829, the family consisting of the father and children, for the mother had died in her native land, and their first home here was at Frederick City, Maryland, from whence they later removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the father followed rope making and finally died there.
William Steeg, his son and the father of Henry C., was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, February 26, 1820, and from Indianapolis he went to North Vernon, Indiana, and worked in the stone quarries in that vicinity. In 1853 he located at Greencastle Junction, Putnam county, Indiana, and engaged in the manufacture of lime as a partner in the firm of Dixon, Butch & Steeg. After a time the interests of Dixon & Butch were purchased by J. W. Fellinger, of Terre Haute, and the firm name then became Steeg & Fellinger, so continuing until Mr. Steeg, in 1874, purchased his partner's interest and continued the business until his death, August 30, 1876. On their farm near Indianapolis he married Emily Langenberger, who was born in Germany in 1832, and she died September 21, 1904, at Greencastle Junction.
Among the other children of the family is Charles E. Steeg. who, born in Putnam county, reared on farm, and educated in the public schools, entered the railroad service, and is a conductor on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, with residence at Indianapolis. David B .. another son, is also in the railroad service, being traveling passenger agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He began at Limedale as joint agent for the Monon and Vandalia railroads, and his ability and atten- tion to business gained him promotion to his present position. Frank Steeg, another of this family, after leaving the Greencastle high school and a commercial college in Terre Haute, entered the employment of the Vandalia as bill clerk, was later transferred to the St. Louis city office, and is now traveling salesman for a plaster company. Julia C. and Addie C. are residents of Franklin, Indiana, and Martha is the wife of Charles E. Bell, manager of a lumber company at Linton, Indiana.
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