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 16
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leaders of the county led to his deep interest in politics and he has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He is today well known as a Republican leader and has served for several terms as secretary of the Republican central committee. He has, however, never sought office for himself, his endorsement to party principles being the result of his firm belief in their efficiency in promoting the best interests of the country.
Mr. Carmack was married to Miss Sadie Hughes, a daughter of Daniel Hughes, now deceased, of Terre Haute. This marriage has been blessed with one child, Lucile. The parents are members of the First Methodist church, of which Mr. Carmack is serving as a trustee and he also belongs to the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias.
ALBERT J. KELLEY is a prominent lawyer of Terre Haute, and has been quite influential in the Democratic politics of the state. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born on the 21st of March, 1849, and son of Andrew J. and Bridget (Johnson ) Kelley, the father having been a native of Ireland and the mother of Cincinnati. The elder Mr. Kelly, who was an engineer, died aboard the United States transport, "Dakota," an April 20, 1863, the steamer being engaged in carrying soldiers of the Union army.
In 1856 the family had located at Terre Haute, the home being on a farm a mile east of St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Here Albert J. Kelley lived until he was nineteen years of age, received a common school education, and at this period in his life came to Terre Haute to commence the reading of law in the office of William E. McLean. In 1869 he was admitted to the bar, and as a practitioner entered the office of Richard Dunigan, with whom he was associated for about a year. He then formed a partnership with Emory P. Beauchamp, afterward United States consul to Aix-la-Chapelle. Prussia, and St. Gaul, Switzerland, the con- nection continuing until Mr. Beauchamp was elected city attorney. In 1874 Mr. Kelley was elected prosecuting attorney of Vigo county, being re-elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880. He then retired to the private practice of his profession and has continued alone, with the exception of the four years which he spent in Washington under Cleveland's first adminis- tration. He served as secretary of the Indiana state senate in 1883-5. the period from 1874 to 1885 being that of his greatest activity in politics and public affairs. Mr. Kelley married Miss Margaret J. D. Deverraux, a native of Lafayette. Indiana, who died February 23. 1808, leaving a daughter and a son-Mary Louise and Daniel Vorhees Kelley.
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NICKOLAS STEIN, president of the Fort Harrison Savings Bank and one of Terre Haute's best known citizens, is a native of Germany, born October 3. 1843. in Hesse-Darmstadt, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Huebner) Stein. His parents were also natives of Hesse-Darmstadt and came to America in 1858. settling first in Missouri. In the spring of 1860 they came to Terre Haute, where for years they have been among the city's honored citizens.
The son received a public school education and served an apprentice- ship at the shoemaker's trade until 1864. in May, of that year, enlisting in Company I, One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and serving as a four months' soldier. He was assigned to guard duty at Bridgeport, Alabama, and was mustered out at Indianapolis, in Sep- tember. 1864.
Returning to his home in Terre Haute, the young soldier resumed civil employment by engaging in the boot and shoe business. in partner- ship with Mr. Heckelsburg, under the firm name of Stein & Heckelsburg. This establishment was for years one of the city's leading commercial houses. Mr. Stein finally retired from active business.
On May II, 1867, Mr. Stein was married to Catherine, daughter of Charles F. and Hannah (Seeberger) May, both natives of Baden, Germany, who died in the United States. Mrs. Stein, who was the youngest of seven children, was born September 21, 1843. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nickolas Stein are Charles F., Edward E., Gertrude M. and Katy May. Mr. Stein is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, in which he has passed all the chairs, and also a member of the Commercial Club. He is a Democrat and has served as school trustee and alderman.
WILLIS A. ETHINGTON .- Terre Haute numbers among her native sons Willis A. Ethington, the present secretary of its board of education and well known in its real estate and fire insurance circles, with offices at 4211/2 Wabash avenue. The family trace their ancestry to the Blue Grass state of Kentucky, the birthplace of James Ethington, who moved from there to Indiana and resided in Fayette township of Vigo county until he removed to a farm near Paris, Illinois, dying there in 1871, at the age of ninety-six years. His son, James E. Ethington, was born in the old home in Kentucky, and coming to Vigo county, became one of the earliest residents of Terre Haute, where as a brick mason he worked on many of the early buildings of this city. He died here in 1861. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy M. Leek, and also claimed Kentucky as the state of her nativity. It was in that state also that she became the wife of James E. Ethington. coming with him to Terre Haute, and she died in 1873.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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James M. Bolton
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In their home in this city, in what is now the First Ward, Willis A. Ethington was born April 24. 1859, and after completing his edu- cation in the public schools he secured employment in the wheel works. In 1879 he enlisted in the Regular army, in which he served for five years and was discharged in Texas. He then returned to his home here and accepted the position of foreman with the wheel works, but resigned that office after fifteen years to become a bailiff under Judge Henry, of the superior court, and was reappointed by Judge Stimson, of the same court. He served as a bailiff until the Ist of January, 1906, and then entered the field of business as a real estate and fire insurance dealer, representing the North British and Mercantile Insurance companies, of London and Edinburgh. He was elected to the city school board at the regular session of June 4, 1907, taking the oath of office on the 2d of August following, and he was made the secretary of the board. Mr. Ethington is a mem- ber of the fraternal order of Maccabees, the National Aid Society, the Knights and Ladies of Honor and the Home Defenders, No. 2, and has held offices in all of the societies.
On the 6th of September, 1884, he married Miss Julia Sidenstick, born at Xenia, Ohio, and a daughter of David Sidenstick, residing in Terre Haute. Their children are: Ernest L., born June 24, 1885 ; Ethel, born August 1, 1887; Inez, born March 30, 1897, and Clyde, born September 14, 1894.
JAMES M. BOLTON .- In a county which formerly had a strong Re- publican majority, James M. Bolton was elected to the office of treasurer upon the Democratic ticket, and members of the opposition as well as of his own party endorse his service as that of one who is most loyal and faithful to the trust reposed in him. He was born on the 25th of October, 1845, on a farm in Rockingham county, Virginia, his parents being James and Sarah (Horn) Bolton, both of whom were natives of the Old Do- minion, the former born in Rockingham county and the latter in Rock- bridge county. It was in the year 1855 that the removal was made from Virginia to Vigo county, Indiana, at which time the family home was es- tablished in Fayette township, where the father purchased a half of sec- tion 18, near the village of New Goshen, and there upon the farm which he developed and improved he passed away in 1877. His wife continued to make her home there until her demise in 1889, and they were nun- bered among the most respected and worthy residents of the community, having a circle of warm friends, who held them in highest regard. The father was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
James M. Bolton was a lad of ten years when brought by his parents to Indiana. and upon the home farm he was reared, early learning lessons
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of industry, enterprise and integrity as he was trained in the work of the fields and instructed concerning those things which are of true worth in life. He attended the public schools and continued to assist in the work of the home farm until his parents were called to their final rest. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and capable direction and sound judgment characterized his agricultural interests.
Mr. Bolton has figured quite prominently in political circles through the past decade. In 1898 he became the Democratic candidate for county clerk, but the entire ticket was in that year defeated. In 1900 he was again a candidate of his party, this time for the office of county treasurer. but the election resulted in a tic vote and the matter was finally settled by the supreme court, the decision awarding the office to the Republican contestant. In 1906 he was again his party's candidate for county treas- urer and received public endorsement at the polls, so that on the Ist of January, 1908, he entered upon the duties of the position, which he is now capably and creditably filling. He has carefully systematized the work of the office, and his well known reliability insures a faithful ac- counting for all public funds.
Mr. Bolton has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Sarah Whitesell, who was born at New Goshen, Vigo county, a daughter of Jacob and Susan Whitesell, who came to this county from Augusta county, Virginia. She died in 1870, at the age of twenty-five years, leav- ing two sons-James Monroe, a farmer living in New Goshen, and Jacob Harvey, who is a gauger in the revenue service at Terre Haute. For his second wife Mr. Bolton chose Miss Mary E. Strole, who was born in Page county, Virginia, a daughter of Simeon S. and Agnes Strole, who settled near New Goshen, in Vigo county, in 1857. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Bolton is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Red Men and the Masons. He and his father were initiated into the Masonic lodge on the same night in 1869 and he has since been one of its exemplary representa- tives, true to the beneficent spirit and helpful teachings of the craft. His residence in the county covers more than a half century and he has there- fore witnessed much of its growth and development as it has taken on all the evidences of a modern, cultured civilization. While there have been no exciting or unusual chapters in his life history, it has been character- ized by a faithful performance of daily duties, by activity and trustworthi- ness in business relations and now by an unfaltering fidelity in official service. He has a large circle of friends, many of whom have known him from his youth to the present time.
DANIEL FASIG, an ex-chief of police of Terre Haute, an ex-sheriff of Vigo county, and now a well known citizen and real estate dealer in
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Terre Haute, was born in Clark county, Illinois, January 29. 1850, a son of Henry and Eliza (Taggart) Fasig, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. During an early period in its history Henry Fasig became a resident of Clark county, Illinois, where for several years he was engaged in business, and his death occurred there in 1852, when but twenty-six years of age. His widow survived him for many years and died in 1879, aged forty-three.
When a boy of ten years. Daniel Fasig became a resident of Terre Haute, and after completing his education in its public schools he entered upon an apprenticeship at the harness-maker's trade with the firm of Miller & Schmebel, remaining with them from 1873 to 1874. During the following six years he was in the employ of Farley & Roach, harness makers, and at the close of that period formed a partnership with Oscar Froeb, under the firm name of Froeb & Fasig, and bought the harness and saddlery business of P. J. Ryan, the firm of Froeb & Fasig continuing in the business from 1873 to 1877. In 1880 MIr. Fasig formed a partnership with John F. Reagan and established the "Health Office," making of it a popular and successful business place and conducted it for twelve years, in the meantime, in 1885, purchasing his partner's interest. Mr. Fasig sold the Health Office to Mr. Myers and forming a partnership with William Starr and Fred Appman bought out the Joseph H. Biggs wholesale commission house, but on January 1, 1900, sold his interest therein to the Vigo County Commission. Company. But in the political as well as the business circles of Vigo county, Mr. Fasig has won prominence and a high position, and has held several responsible positions in the city and county government. In 1877 he made the race for the office of city marshal, but was defcated at the polls, and he then accepted a position on the city police force as a lieutenant, serving in that position for over three years, and in 1883 was made the chief of the police department for two years. In 1896 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the state senate. and in 1898 was defeated for county auditor, but in November, 1900, was successful in the race for the office of sheriff of Vigo county, and was re-elected in 1902, his tenure of office covering four years and forty-one days by reason of the legislature extending the time law. In 1905 Mr. Fasig engaged in the real estate business, and is now the owner of con- siderable valuable improved property in this city, including the Colonial flat building on North Seventh street, and twelve residences in the block bounded by Fourth and Sixth streets and Second and Third avenues, all up-to-date and modern homes.
He has been twice married, first wedding S. A. Seaschultz, who was also born in Clay county, Indiana, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Love ) Seaschultz, and of their four children two are living, A. A. and
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Curtis O. The elder is now a resident of Anna. Illinois, where he is engaged in the ice business on a large scale and is also prominently identified with its street car interests. Curtis O. Fasig, is residing in Kansas City, Missouri, where he is a hard-wood finisher. For his second wife Mr. Fasig married Emily Kisner, the daughter of Alpheus and Harriet (Downey ) Kisner. Alpheus Kisner was for some time proprietor of the old Boston House, one of the earliest and most noted of Terre Haute's hotels. Mr. Fasig is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows. Red Men. Woodmen. Knights of Pythias, Junior Order of American Mechanics and the Elks fraternities.
JOHN KENNEDY, the superintendent of the Terre Haute Fire Depart- ment, first became connected with the public life of this city in 1869, when he was made the night fireman of the Terre Haute Fire Department, at a salary of ten dollars a month. He served under John D. Bell. the first paid chief of the department. In 1882 he became the chief of the department. but after ten months he resigned the office to engage in business. On the 8th of May. 1888. Mr. Kennedy returned to the position, succeeding Martin Hunter, his term expiring on the 16th of May, 1890, when he was succeeded by J. D. Jones. In 1892 he was appointed Mr. Jones successor and served until the 8th of May, 1894, when he in turn was again suc- ceeded by Mr. Jones. On the 3d of September, 1906, for the fourth time Mr. Kennedy was made the chief of the fire department in Terre Haute, succeeding Elias Leonard. Under its different administrations the department has been permitted to retrograde, but under the present regime it has taken on new life, having been greatly improved in all its appointments and it is now in an excellent condition, worthy in every way to form an important part in the city government.
Mr. Kennedy is of Irish descent, for his parents, James and Ann (Calahan) Kennedy, were both born in that country, the father in County Tipperary and the mother in County Limerick. In his early manhood James Kennedy left his native land and came to Canada, where for a number of years he was engaged in lumbering. Mrs. Kennedy came to the United States in her girlhood days, and they were married in Ohio, from whence they journeyed on the Wabash and Erie canal to Indiana and located in Parke county. After farming there for a time they moved to near Iowa City, Iowa, but eventually returned to Parke county. After her husband's death Mrs. Kennedy came to Vigo county and died on her son's farm north of Terre Haute. It was during their residence in Parke county that their son John was born, his natal day being the Ioth of January, 1853, and he was practically reared on a farm. In 1867 he came to Terre Haute, and for a time worked for his brother Michael, after which
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he worked for different employers in this city until he joined the fire department.
Mr. Kennedy married Mary Ralston, a native daughter of Parke county, Indiana.
W. HOMER FLOYD .- In architectural circles the name of W. Homer Floyd has passed beyond the confines of Terre Haute and Vigo county and has permeated many parts of the United States. It was here, how- ever, that he entered upon his career as an architect in 1880, and here he has mounted the ladder of success until he now stands among the successful few in the profession. In 1887 he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but returned to Terre Haute in the spring of 1892, after a seven years' residence in the south. During that time, however, he planned and superintended the erection of some of the commonwealth's principal buildings, including the Read Hotel, the First and Third National banks of Chattanooga, and the Park Hotel, of Chickamauga, Tennessee. He was also the architect of the Dennison Hotel, of Indianapolis, Indiana, the McDermot and New Florence hotels, of Butte, Montana, the French Lick Springs Hotel, of French Lick, Indiana, and the Terre Haute House, the Indiana State Normal School, the Filbeck Hotel, Wheeler building, Erwin block, Grand Opera House, Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library, and the Root and Herz store buildings, the latter having been completed in 1907 and is the finest and most complete store building in the west, all of Terre Haute. Mr. Floyd has also furnised plans for many of Terre Haute's finest residences, including those of Crawford Fairbanks, H. J. Miller, George Foulkes and J. H. McCoy, also the Bement flats.
The birthplace of Mr. Floyd was Evansville, where his family on both sides were prominent for many years, and his birthday is the Ist of August, 1852. Ile is a son of L. L. and Alice C. (Stinson) Floyd. The Stinsons came to Indiana from the state of New York, and estab- lishing their home in the southern part of the state became leading resi- dents of the community. Mrs. Evans, the widow of the late General Evans, one of Evansville's most prominent citizens and in honor of whose family the city was named, was a member of the Stinson family. That city was also the birthplace of Mrs. Floyd. L. L. Floyd was born in Mill Springs, Kentucky, and was a member of the family who moved from the Old Dominion state of Virginia to that commonwealth many years ago. For years he was engaged in the lumber and saw milling business in Evansville, but his interests took him away from home during a considerable portion of his time, spending several years each at Rockport, Indiana, and Mt. Carmel, Illinois, but although he took his family with him to these places he always maintained his home in Evans- ville. His death occurred at Mt. Carmel, and his wife died in Evansville.
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It was in that city that W. Homer Floyd attained to man's estate, in the meantime attending its public schools and the Collegiate Institute. of Rockport, Indiana, where he was a student for two years. He learned the trade of stair builder at Evansville, and during his several years' connection with that work he also studied mechanical engineering and architecture. As above stated he located in Terre Haute in 1880, and with the passing years he has enrolled his name high among its architects and builders. He is a member of the Masonic and Elks fraternities.
Mr. Floyd married Fidelia, a daughter of Judge Bozman, of New Harmony, of this state. She was born and reared in that little city on the Wabash, and at her death, in 1901, she left to survive her one daugh- ter, Ione, who became the wife of Clarence Kirk, a merchant of Terre Haute. For his second wife Mr. Floyd married Mrs. Ada Belle Sears, of this city.
J. MERRILL SHERMAN .- The architectural circles of Terre Haute numbers among its members J. Merrill Sherman, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, November 5. 1861, a son of James Henry and Amanda M. (Taft) Sherman, natives respectively of Newton, Massachusetts, and Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
James H. Sherman is a son of James Madison Sherman and a nephew of Seth Boynton, the inventor, with whom he lived for a time in Newark. He learned the wood-working business in the Pettie Machine Works, of Newton, Upper Falls, and remained with the works for five or six years, and it was at the close of this period that he went to New Jersey and to the home of his uncle in Newark. After three years in Newark he accepted a position with the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Com- pany, at Boston, Massachusetts, continuing in their factory for seven- teen years, and during the following six years he worked for the Hancock Inspirator Company. In 1882 he came to Terre Haute to accept a position with the Rose Polytechnic College as an instructor in their wood department, and for ten years he was numbered among the faculty of that prominent institution. After spending some time in the Vandalia Rail- road shops in this city he retired and is now making his home with his son, J. Merrill Sherman. His wife died in 1886.
After completing his educational training in the Boston public schools J. Merrill Sherman began work as an architect in a small way, but when a mere boy, before he had attained his sixteenth year, he had made plans to some extent for Boston contractors. In 1882 he came to Terre Haute and began to work in the shops of the Rose Polytechnic College. but after about a year there he entered the employ of the Clifton Williams Company,
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and in 1894 began as an architect on an independent scale, with offices on South Sixth street until 1904. Since then he has maintained his offices at his residence, 1504 Second avenue. During his connection with the business interests of this city Mr. Sherman has executed the plans for the Bement-Rae wholesale grocery house, on Wabash and Eighth streets, the McKeen block, on the corner of Seventh and Wabash, the Maple Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, the remodeling of the First Baptist church, the Tabernacle Baptist church, the pavilion in Collett park, and a number of residences in different parts of the city. His latest works, completed in 1907, were the Cook building, at the corner of Eighth and Cherry streets, for a wholesale drug company, the Montrose Methodist Episcopal church, on College and Seventeenth streets, and the plans for the addition to the Union Hospital.
Mr. Sherman married Bellretta Rankin, who was born in Terre Haute and a daughter of William Rankin. They have one son, Clarence E. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
CHARLES PADGET .- Terre Haute's well known and popular archi- tect and superintendent, Charles Padget, has the distinction of being the youngest member of the profession in the city, but although young in years he has established a record which promises well for the future. He is at the present time engaged on the plans and specifications for the Odd Fellows Temple, which is to be one of the finest buildings in the city, and Mr. Padget secured it in competition with five other architects. He has fur- nished the plans and superintended the erection of many other of the finest buildings of Terre Haute, including four school buildings in Harri- son township. a number of fine residences and a large warehouse for the Commercial Distillery Company.
Mr. Padget is of English parentage and was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 4, 1874, a son of Harry and Mary Padget. Harry Padget came to the United States from the mother country in 1869 and located first in Indianapolis, from whence, in 1880, he came to Terre Haute and resumed his trade of stair building for a number of years. Later he drifted into contracting, and is yet one of the prominent con- tractors and builders of Terre Haute. His son Charles also began learning stair building after leaving school, serving an apprenticeship at the Clifton-Williams Planing Mill Company. After continuing as a stair builder for eleven years he took up the study of architecture in the International Correspondence School and received his diploma on the 15th of July, 1904. But long before he became a member of the school Mr. Padget had studied architecture, and immediately after his graduation he was competent to enter into business life and has since been con-
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