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 19
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Many recall the grocer and provision merchant. Daniel Debs, who had a store in Terre Haute from 1851 to 1887. He and his wife were natives of Alsace, while that was a French possession, and were married after coming to New York, and moved to Terre Haute in 1851. A sister of Eugene is the wife of John G. Heinl. .
Eugene V. Debs was born in Terre Haute. November 5. 1855, grew up in the city and attend the common schools with a number of the men who are now active in business affairs here. When he was sixteen years old he became a fireman on the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, and his four years' experience was the basis of his career. From 1875 to 1879 he was with the wholesale firm of Hulman & Company, and in the latter year became city clerk. He was elected grand secretary and treasurer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen in 1880, and at once became one of the active organizers of this powerful branch of organized labor. Though he continued as city clerk until 1883 and was a member of the Indiana legislature in 1885. he was principally active in the work of the order, and for some time was editor of the Locomotive Fireman. From grand secretary and treasurer he was elevated to the presidency of the American Railway Union, in 1893, and at once took the leadership in directing the greatest railway strikes in the history of American industrialism. He won a strike on the Great Northern Rail- way, and in 1894 while directing the strike on western railways that practically tied up every system between the Alleghanies and the Rocky mountains he was arrested on a charge of conspiracy, but after one of the trials famous in labor history was acquitted. This was followed by a charge against him of violation of an injunction, and he was sent to jail for six months for contempt of court. Since those memorable days of 1894 Mr. Debs has been constantly active as an organizer, and as a writer and lecturer has advocated his doctrines in every part of the nation. His residence remains in Terre Haute, and he increases the fame of this city as the home of many men of national reputation. Mr. Debs married Katherine Metzel, June 9, 1885.
JOHN JAMES SHEA, JR .- The attractiveness of Terre Haute as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders, finding here good business opportuni- ties, with equally excellent educational facilities and other opportunities contributing toward individual advancement. Among the native resi- (lents of the city is numbered John James Shea, Jr .. now president of the Terre Haute Oil and Coal Company. His birth occurred at the corner of Sixth and One-Half and Tippecanoe streets on the 25th of November, 1873. His father, John J. Shea, Sr., was a native of Ireland, born in
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1847, and when twenty years of age he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the United States. He first located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he began work in connection with railroad construction, and on leaving that place removed to Sullivan, Illinois, where he was again busy on railroad construction work. In 1872 he came to Terre Haute, remaining, however, in railroad employ until his retirement from active business life a few years ago. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Bridget Griffin, was also a native of Ireland and came to the United States in the late sixties, spending about a year and a half in Boston, Massachusetts, after which she came to Terre Haute. It was in this city that Mr. and Mrs. Shea were married and here they have spent the residue of their days to the present. Both are communicants of St. Joseph's Catholic church.
John J. Shea, Jr., was reared in Terre Haute and acquired his edu- cation in the public and parochial schools, supplemented by a night course in the Garvin Commercial College. In 1892, when a young man of but eighteen years, he started out upon an independent business career in connection with the oil trade. By the aid of friends he obtained a wagon and horse and then invested five dollars in oil, which he began to sell from house to house. For eight and a half years he retailed oil from the wagon, and on the expiration of that period, in 1896, he formed a partnership with Daniel O'Connell under the firm name of the Terre Haute Oil and Coal Company. They began to handle both oil and coal, selling to the wholesale and to the retail trade, and in 1904 they incor- porated the business with Mr. O'Connell as president and Mr. Shea as secretary and treasurer. The company was capitalized for forty thousand dollars. In 1907 Mr. O'Connell retired from the business on account of poor health and the company was then reorganized, with Mr. Shea as president and general manager, Maures Walsh as vice president and Harry Ward as secretary and treasurer, and with Joseph Crockett and William Drought on the board of directors. The company now utilizes fifteen wagons in the sale of the products which it handles and does an annual business of from one hundred and twenty thousand to one hun- dred and forty thousand dollars. From the beginning the business has steadily developed along substantial lines and the success is attributable in large measure to the efforts and intelligent direction of Mr. Shea.
Mr. Shea was married in 1901 to Miss Mary A. Kennedy, a daughter of Michael Kennedy and also a native of Terre Haute, her birth having occurred at the corner of North Fifth and Eagle streets. She has become the mother of three children, Mary, Anna and John, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. Mr. Shea is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Young Men's Institute, the Modern Woodmen camp
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and the Knights of Columbus. He has a wide acquaintance in his native city, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood indicates that his has been an honorable life and that his acquaintances find him a congenial companion. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shea are members of St. Joseph's Catholic church.
JOHN F. BRINKMAN .- The late John F. Brinkman, who died in Terre Haute on the 18th of January, 1904, was one of its foremost citizens, from whatever point of view he is considered; for he was a leader in the business and industrial development of the community, of energetic temperament and broad mind, and his heart was not only tender for those nearest to him, but his affections went out to those of other families who were physical or spiritual sufferers. Like many of large practical affairs, this breadth and depth of sympathy were largely veiled during his busy life, but at his death the community came to fully realize its pervading force. A local publication thus touches upon this character trait in the strong and beloved personality of the deceased : "The will of John F. Brinkman was one that fell upon this community like a benediction. It exhaled a kind, thoughtful spirit that revives one's flagging faith in mankind. He had a large family who might have claimed all his consideration when making his last will and testament, and if it had, it would not have excited comment, but the fact that, as he stood on the brink of eternity before he went into the operat- ing room, he thought of so many to whom to leave a bequest, bespeaks a tender heart that appeals to all and sweetens his memory. Little orphan children were remembered; a hospital where sufferers find relief was not forgotten ; brothers, sisters, a cousin and a friend have reason to know he thought of them just before being called hence. Not only did he remember the church in which he worshiped, but all the others in the city of his faith. It was a beautiful will, full of kindly thought, which serves to endear the maker's memory in this community to all who admire generosity and thoughtful kindness. And who does not ?"
The able, strong man, to whom these words so justly apply, is a native of Indiana, born in Oldenburg, Franklin county, on the 30th of October, 1841. He was of substantial German parentage, and was left an orphan at thirteen years of age. Thus thrown upon his own untried strength and resourcefulness, he enjoyed no exhuberance of youth, but passed directly from boyhood to manhood. He had attended a German school at Oldenburg for a short time, and that was the extent of his education drawn from text books. Leaving his native town soon after the death of his parents, he went to Indianapolis and afterward to Batesville, Indiana, where he was occupied at such various vocations
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as timber buyer and traveling salesman. Both at Batesville and James- town he operated a stave factory, and in 1878 located at Terre Haute. In partnership with Frank Russell he first ran a stave and heading fac- tory for about three years, and thereafter continued the industry alone until 1894. He then sold his establishment and purchased a stave factory in Paragould, Arkansas, which he conducted until 1901, and after dis- posing of this plant to advantage he bought a large interest (in March, 1903) in the W. W. Wilson Stave Company, a corporation of Little Rock, Arkansas, organized with a capital stock of $50,000. For about four years he was also a member of the Terre Haute firm of Prox & Brinkman, manufacturers of machinery, and also engaged in the livery business for several years. At the same time he was a stockholder in the United States Trust Company, a director in the Fort Harrison Savings Bank, and otherwise interested in financial and industrial enter- prises.
Although he was never active in politics, Mr. Brinkman had firm faith in Democratic principles, and consistently supported the party. When W. A. Armstrong was mayor in 1885 the board of police com- missioners came into existence, and Mr. Brinkman was appointed a member of that body. Otherwise he never even held office of any political character. The later years of his life were mainly devoted to his farming interests, his property being located about five miles south- east of the city.
The deceased was twice married-first, in 1863, to Miss Catherine Kipper, who died at Terre Haute in 1889, leaving the following children : Charles J., George, Otto, Frank, John, Carrie and Antoinette. In 1890 he wedded for his second wife Mrs. Agnes Rudy, and one child, Richard J. Brinkman, has been born to their union. The maiden name of Mrs. Agnes Brinkman, the honored widow, was Agnes Weidel. She is a native of Terre Haute, and had a daughter by her first marriage. Bregetta. The deceased was a devout member of the Catholic church, as are all the family. and was long a leading member of the St. Benedict's church. He was also prominent in the fraternal affairs of the Knights of Colum- bus, and served as treasurer of the St. Francis German Catholic Central Society for a period of seventeen years.
EDWARD T. HAZLEDINE, proprietor of the E. T. Hazledine machine shops, the largest concern of its kind in Terre Haute, is a native son of the mother country of England, born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, on December 3. 1859, in the same house in which his father, William Hazle- dine, was also born. William Hazledine was a machinist by trade, and he and his good wife, Margaret Webb, died in their native town, the
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mother in 1876, aged forty-eight, and the father in 1907, after he had traveled the journey of life for eighty years.
In his native town of Coalbrookdale their son Edward grew to years of maturity and received his education in its common or denominational schools. But at the early age of twelve he put aside his text books and three years later entered upon an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade, although during the three years intervening between his school days and the beginning of his business life he had spent much time in and around the shops. He practically grew up in a machine shop, and is therefore naturally adapted to the trade and is thoroughly familiar with the busi- ness in all its departments. After completing his apprenticeship Mr. Hazledine worked in different cities in England until he sailed for the United States in 18SI to try his fortune in this free land. He came direct to Terre Haute, where he had relatives living, but soon afterward began work in the railroad shops at Paris, Illinois, and from there en- tered the Pullman car works at Chicago. After working at various other points he came again to Terre Haute and became identified with the Eagle Iron Works, but leaving their employ, worked in Chicago, Illinois ; Louisville, Kentucky; Evansville, Indiana, and other cities, in all this time grounding himself deeper and deeper in the intricacies of the trade until at length returning once more to Terre Haute he filled important positions in the Vandalia Railroad shops and the Eagle Iron Works. In 1887 he began business for himself by opening a machine shop at 231-233 South First street, his present location, beginning in a very small way, at first doing all his own work. But soon the business began to grow and expand and today it is the largest of its kind in Terre Haute and furnishes on an average to twenty skilled mechanics. Mr. Hazledine has the active management of the establishment in all its various departments and does a general machine business, manufacturing many special kinds of machinery for different and often distant parts of the world. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen and takes an interest in all matters of public importance, but has never entered poli- tics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Independent Order of Foresters and the Elks.
In 1887 Mr. Hazledine married Gertrude Darnell, born at Worth- ington, Indiana, a daughter of Isaac M. and Emma (Rowland) Darnell, both originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Margaret Jean, the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hazledine, was born in Terre Haute and received her education in its graded and high schools and is now com- pleting her musical education in Chicago. She is already an accom- plished musician, and is a performer of more than ordinary ability and of great promise on the cello. Emma Rowland, the second daughter, was
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born in Terre Haute, and having passed through the city schools she is now a student at the training school of the Indiana Normal at Terre Haute, as is also her sister, Ione Cosette, who is also a musician.
GEORGE T. STEVENS has been closely identified with the interests of Terre Haute for many years, and today stands at the head of one of its leading concerns, the Terre Haute Stone Works Company. He be- came identified with the stone-cutting business in his early manhood in England, and since that time his master mind has planned and executed until he now stands in the front rank of the industry and among his adopted city's most prominent business men.
The birth of Mt. Stevens occurred in Faversham, Kent, England, March 19, 1846, and his parents, John and Mary ( Wiles) Stevens, were also born in that city and there spent their entire lives. They gave to their son 'a common school education, and after its completion he went to London to serve his apprenticeship at the stone-cutter's trade. He re- mained in that city until in March, 1873, when he sailed for the United States, and spent some time at his trade in New York city. From there he went to Chicago and later to Indianapolis, where he worked on the Marion county court house, and from Indianapolis he came to Terre Haute in 1878 to become the foreman for a Mr. Eppenhousen, a cut- stone contractor, who sent Mr. Stevens to Paris, Illinois, to superintend the building of a city school house. His next employers were Chadwick & Henry, cut-stone contractors, and after leaving their employ became the superintendent for the old Terre Haute Stone Company, composed of Chadwick. Lyons and Gulick, with whom he continued for about ten years. In company with Mr. E. D. Chadwick he then purchased Mr. Gulick's interest in the business and since that time the business has been conducted under the firm name of the Terre Haute Stone Works Com- pany, with mill, yard and office at the corner of Sycamore and Water streets. The plant covers an entire square, three hundred by three hun- dred feet, and employment is furnished to from twenty to twenty-five people.
Mr. Stevens married in London, England, Miss Elizabeth Abbinett. She was born in Hampshire, England, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Kennedy) AAbbinett, the father a native also of that place, and the mother of Belfast, Ireland. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are Ger- trude, born in London, England, is the widow of Harry Abbinett and she makes her home with her parents; George A., born in Chicago and also a stone-cutter, married Amelia Ains, of Terre Haute : Mary, born at Greencastle, Indiana, is the wife of William Surber, of Indianapolis ; John Thomas, the youngest, was also born in Greencastle, and he died in
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that city. Mr. Stevens and his family are members of the Episcopal church.
EDWARD DRIVER CHADWICK. secretary and treasurer of the Terre Haute Stone Works Company. and thus a leading representative of in- dustrial interests in Vigo county, possesses the alert, enterprising spirit of the business man of the twentieth century, who recognizes and utilizes his opportunities and has the power of co-ordinating forces to bring about practical and desired results. Such men are the real upbuilders and promoters of a town or city, for municipal progress does not depend upon the wheels of government. but on the class of men who constitute a citizenship and are the promoters of its commercial life.
Mr. Chadwick is a native of England, his birth having occurred in the town of Burnley, Lancashire, August 8, 1846. His parents, Hitchon and Mary (Diver) Chadwick, were also natives of Burnley, the former born in 1825, while his death occurred in 1903. The mother, however, passed away when her son Edward was but two years of age. Hitchon Chadwick was a general contractor and his father and grandfather had also been connected with that line of business. Edward C. Chadwick has continued in the same line of activity. After acquiring his prelimi- nary education in the graded schools, he pursued a course in a literary institute and then learned the business of general contracting with his father. with whom he continued until he came to the United States in March, 1869. He felt that America was the land of opportunity and ambitious to advance his financial interests, he crossed the Atlantic and spent but one season in New York and Philadelphia. In the fall of that same year he made his way westward to Terre Haute. where he ar- rived on the 4th of October, 1869. He left Philadelphia, however, with- out a definite destination in view, thinking that he would probably go on through the country to the coast and then to Australia, but at Chicago the information reached him that stone men were wanted in Terre Haute by the Vandalia Railroad Company and thus he was influenced to become a resident of this city. After having spent some time at work on the railroad he was induced by Jabez Castro to locate permanently in Terre Haute. Following Mr. Castro's advice he has since been a resident of the city and for two years he devoted his time and energies to bridge building in the employ of 'the county.
It was during that period that Mr. Chadwick was married on the 26th of January, 1871, to Miss Catherine Hoopes, whose birth occurred at Sandford. Vigo county, her father being Lewis Hoopes of that place. The young couple journeyed westward on their wedding trip, and at Wamego, Kansas, made a location. Mr. Chadwick there engaging in
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contracting during the season. The town was at that time on a boom, but the abnormal growth waned, and thinking that he would prefer the substantial development of Terre Haute, he returned to this city. Here he at once began business as a general contractor, in which line he has since continued. He was thus a member of the firm of Chadwick Broth- ers, his partner being James T. Chadwick, while the association continued for two years. They did stone work during that period on the McKeen Bank building, at the corner of Wabash and Sixth streets, at the old market house, and on the residences of William Warren and Theodore Hudnut. At the end of two years, however, James T. Chadwick decided to locate elsewhere, removing to Wamego, Kansas, while Edward D. Chadwick continued in business alone in Terre Haute. He was thus identified with building operations here until the 25th of February, 1881, when a stock company was organized, composed of P. C. Henry, Frank McKeen and Edward D. Chadwick, under the firm name of the Terre Haute Stone Works Company, with quarters at the corner of Tenth and One-half and Mulberry streets. Mr. McKeen was chosen president, with Mr. Henry as secretary and treasurer and Mr. Chadwick as superintend- ent. In 1883 the official board changed, when J. B. Lyne became presi- dent and John F. Gulick secretary and treasurer, while Mr. Chadwick remained as superintendent. In 1893 a further change occurred, the com- pany being reorganized with Mr. Chadwick as president, Mr. Gulick as secretary and treasurer and George F. Stevens as superintendent. Such was the personnel of the company until 1898, when George F. Stevens became president and Mr. Chadwick secretary and treasurer, with Wil- liam Cleland as vice president. From the organization of the company the business has constantly grown in volume and importance and has largely approached the ideal business standard. The company has ever met competition in a rivalry of merit rather than in a war of prices, put- ting a premium on high grade work by employing efficient workers and paying them their legitimate share of the profits which their talents bring to the business. The character of their patronage is indicated by the fact that they were awarded the contract for the building of the present county court house and also the Soldiers' and Sailors' monument at In- dianapolis, which is one of the finest pieces of architecture of the kind in the country. They have furnished the stone work for almost every prominent building in Terre Haute and still the business has opportunities for expansion. It is managed by men who understand the business them- selves and who know how to develop the latent capacity of their em- ployes, and it is permeated by a spirit of courtesy, thoroughness, enthu- siasm, energy and perseverance.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick has been born a daughter, Margaret
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A., a native of Terre Haute and now the wife of Frank B. Cook, of the Cook & Black Wholesale Drug Company of this city. Mr. Chadwick is a member of Social Lodge, No. 86, Free and Accepted Masons, belongs to the Commercial Club and to the Young Men's Christian Association- connections which indicate much of the character of his interests, showing him to be a man of public spirit and beneficent principles. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. His life has been character- ized by indomitable perseverance and strong individuality and a freedom from every esoteric phase. While he has gained prominence in his chosen field of labor his life accomplishment but represents the result of the fit utilization of the innate talent which is his and the directing of his efforts 111 these lines where mature judgment and rare discrimination lead the way.
CHARLES W. BAUERMEISTER, the president of the C. W. Bauermeister Grocery Company, is a native of Prussia, Germany, and received his edu- cation in the excellent schools of his native land. In 1860 he sailed from the land of his birth to the United States and came direct to Terre Haute, where eight years later he entered upon the business career in which he has achieved such splendid success. It was in 1868 that he embarked in the grocery business as the senior member of the firm of Bauermeister & Busch, but subsequently Mr. Bauermeister purchased the entire busi- ness and conducted it under his own name until in June, 1905. At that time the C. W. Bauermeister Company was incorporated and he was made its president, with his son, Carl E., as the secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Bauermeister is married and has the following children : Sidonia, the wife of W. G. Valentine, of Chicago; Cora M .. who died in 1897 ; Norma, the wife of R. V. Jenkins, paymaster of the Vandalia Railroad Company, and a resident of Terre Haute ; and Carl E., who is the youngest son and the secretary and treasurer of the C. W. Bauermeister Com- pany ; and Anita R.
Carl E. attended the city schools and the Chicago University Pre- paratory School, and after leaving the school room entered his father's business. He is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Travelers' Protective Association. He also has mem- bership relations with the Young Business Men's Club.
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