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 22
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Mr. Newton married, April 7, 1898, Miss Eva A. Johnson, born on a
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farm in Otter Creek township, Vigo county, April 8, 1868, daughter of James S. and Martha J. (Stapleton) Johnson, of this county, who are also members of the Christian church. Miss Johnson followed the profession of teaching for a period of nine years up to the date of her marriage. She graduated from the Indiana State Normal School in the class of 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have two children : Richard Harrold Wayne, born in Terre Haute, February 5, 1899, and Agnes Eleanor Newton, born in that city December 13, 1905. Mr. Newton is a member and past grand of Terre Haute Lodge, No. 51, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his political affiliations are with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Newton and son are members of the Central Christian church, of Terre Haute.
ANTON MAYER .- One of the leading German citizens and successful business men of Terre Haute is Anton Mayer, the pioneer brewer of the city, who has been closely identified with the business interests of this county for over forty years. Mr. Mayer is a native of Germany, having been born on January 12, 1842, in Wurtemberg, and is the son of Bar- tholomew Mayer. Mr. Mayer was reared on his father's farm in the father- land, and received his education in the common schools of his native land. While in Germany he worked for a period of eighteen months in the brewery, and the knowledge thus gained formed the foundation for his great success in that line in this country. He came to the United States in 1858, when but little more than a mere boy, leaving home and parents behind. He came direct to Terre Haute but remained in this city but a short time, going to Cincinnati, Ohio, where for a period of over eight years he was employed in a brewery, three years of which he was foreman of the establishment. While at work in Cincinnati he was a close observer of the way the brewery business was managed, and became thoroughly familiar with all the details of the same. He was of an eco- nomical disposition and his wages soon accumulated sufficiently for him to determine to venture into the business on his own account. When the time came for him to put his plans into force his mind traveled back to Terre Haute, and so, in 1868, he returned to this city and formed a partnership with Andrew Kaufman and together they purchased the brewery plant of his brother-in-law, Mathias Mogger, and engaged in the manufacture of beer. Mr. Kaufman died about cleven months after it was established, Mr. Mayer becoming the sole owner.
When the brewery was first opened for business it was on a small scale, with a yearly capacity of two thousand five hundred barrels. Dur- ing his ownership the plant was improved and enlarged until the capacity.
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in 1889, was raised to twenty-five thousand barrels a year. In that year Mr. Mayer sold that business, which is now the Terre Haute Brewing Company, and retired from active business. He owns considerable valuable improved city and farm property, the management of which takes all of the time he is now willing to devote to business. So successful has been the business career of Mr. Mayer that he is accounted one of the wealthy men of Terre Haute, as well as one of the city's leading and influential citizens. Mr. Mayer was married in Terre Haute, April 29, 1879, to Miss Sophie, daughter of Stacey Miller, a native of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Mayer the following children have been born : Herman, treasurer of the United States Trust Company, of Terre Haute; Bertha, Ida and Gertrude, the latter two deceased.
HON. DAVID W. HENRY .- One of the most distinguished members of the Vigo county bar, Hon. David W. Henry is also one of Terre Haute's leading citizens. In 1884, three years after his graduation in law, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the forty-third judicial district, which was co-extensive with Vigo county, and was re-elected to the office in 1886. He served as chairman of the Republican county central committee in 1892, and in 1894 was elected judge of the superior court. On the first of November, 1897, he resigned from the bench and a week later assumed his duties as collector of internal revenue under appoint- ment by President Mckinley. He acted as collector of the seventh district of Indiana for four years, and during that period collected for the government over $56,000,000.
After leaving the revenue service Judge Henry engaged again in the practice of law, which was largely confined to corporation practice. Among his clients was the United States Steel Corporation, for which he acted as purchasing agent and had charge of their properties in Indiana. He afteward became personally interested in the oil fields of Oklahoma, then located in Indian Territory. He is a great admirer of the late Col. Richard W. Thompson, and at his own expense published a memorial for distribution among the friends of the deceased, as his personal tribute to him.
Judge Henry is a native of Ohio, born in Columbiana county, October 10, 1852, being the son of Jacob and Alvira (Rowles) Henry, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. His training in the public schools was followed by a course in Ascension Seminary, Sullivan, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1872. Then came several years of teaching, and a scientific course of two years at Mount Union College, Ohio. Having thus laid a broad and substantial foundation of general
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knowledge, Judge Henry began his professional studies in Terre Haute in 1876. After about a year he temporarily abandoned his studies on account of ill health, and at his recovery taught school for some years in Vermilion and Sullivan counties, Indiana. During the two years fol- lowing this period he had charge of the Farmersburg schools, after which he visited various sections of the west in his general search for a location. He finally returned to Indiana, and was in charge of the Bloomfield schools for two terms, resigning this position to resume his legal studies.
At his graduation from the Central Law School, of Indianapolis, in 1881, Judge Henry became connected with the office of Davis & Davis, of Terre Haute, and in 1883 succeeded to the practice of Harvey D. Scott, who had been appointed to the circuit bench of Vigo county. A year later he formed a partnership with J. D. Early, and soon afterward was elected prosecuting attorney. From that time to the present his progress as a lawyer, judge, public official and man of various affairs has been uninterrupted, and his standing is as honorable as it is prom- inent. Fraternally he is a Mason, and Elk, is also a member of the Young Business Men's Club.
On the 30th of June, 1885, Judge Henry married Virginia, daughter of Col. Richard W. Thompson, late secretary of the navy in President Hayes' cabinet. The two children of this union are Harriet, born in 1886, and Richard Porter, born in 1890.
WILLIAM C. RETZ, SR., is one of the well known German citizens of Terre Haute, where he has for many years been prominently identified with the meat business and is now the president of the Abattoir and Stock Yards Company. His birth occurred in Neuenstadt, am Kocher, Wurtemberg, Germany, January 28, 1849, and he is the son of Christian and Johanna (Neutz) Retz. He was reared, educated and served an apprenticeship at the butcher's trade in the city of Halle, but in 1867 he left his home there with the intention of coming to America, but instead joined a brother in Paris, France, and remained in that city until 1870. It was then that the Franco-Prussian war broke out and as a result all the German residents there were given but forty-eight hours in which to leave the country, so Mr. Retz determined to follow out his original plan and come to America, arriving here in October of that year. Upon reaching the shores of this country he first made his way to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he worked at his trade for three years, and in the spring of 1873 came to Terre Haute. But in the fall of the same year he left the city for Cleveland, Ohio, to engage in the meat business for himself, returning six months later to marry Mary Imbery, born in Indianapolis, in 1852, to
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Charles August and Mary B. Imbery. The wedding occurred in March, 1874. He returned with his bride to his Cleveland home, but in 1878 left there with the intention of going to Kansas, instead, however, he stopped in Terre Haute and finally decided to make this city his permanent home and at once embarked in the retail meat business. In 1893 he became one of the organizers of the Terre Haute Abattoir and Stock Yards Company, being at once elected its president, with Louis Duenweg, vice president, and F. A. Suburger, the secretary and treasurer. This is one of Terre Haute's substantial organizations, and as its president Mr. Retz is well and prominently known in the industrial circles of this city, and retired from the retail business in 1901.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Retz, namely : William C., Jr., in the retail meat business in Terre Haute ; Mary, deceased ; Annie, a teacher in the kindergarten department of the city schools: Carrie, at home : Paula, deceased, and Bertha, also at home. Mr. Retz was made a Mason in 1891. and in 1896 was made the master of Humbolt Lodge, No. 42, Free and Accepted Masons, in which he served for four years. He is also a member of the Bismarck Lodge, the Order of Ben Hur, and the Schwaben Society.
BRUCE F. FAILEY, one of the prominent young business men of Terre Haute and a leader in its financial affairs, was born in Indianapolis, on the 20th of August, 1874. He is the son of James F. Failey, of Indianapolis, Indiana, who has been retired from active business for several years, was long at the head of large wheel manufactory in Indianapolis. At the present time he is a vice president of the Indiana Trust Company, and a director of the Merchants' National Bank, of Indianapolis.
Bruce F. Failey was reared in Indianapolis, and was educated in its public schools. After graduating from the high school he entered the Rose Polytechnic Institute, of Terre Haute, in which he also completed the regular course. For three years he was a member of the Blair & Failey Manufacturing Company, of that city. At the present time he is connected with various leading enterprises of Terre Haute, and is also a member of the board of directors of both the Terre Haute National Bank and the United States Trust Company. His social and fraternal relations are indicated by his membership in the Country Club, Young Business Men's Club and the Lodge of Elks. Mr. Failey's wife was formerly Sara Fairbanks, daughter of Crawford Fairbanks, of Terre Haute, and to their marriage have been born a son and daughter-Crawford and Alice.
FREDERICK W. SHALEY, A. B., M. D., one of the leading physicians of Terre Haute, is a native of that city, where he was born September
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13, 1858. This has been his life-long home, and here for many years his father was a prominent business man and a citizen of pronounced character. The family may be traced back through the annals of German genealogy for more than two centuries, in its earlier periods being known as "Scheele." Many of its members occupied such government positions in the fatherland as those of mayor and postmaster, and presented a uniform record of faithfulness, practical ability and honor. The parents'of Dr. Shaley, Frederick W. and Matilda (Criss) Shaley, were natives respec- tively of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and the state of Ohio. The father came to the United States early in his life, and his mother, in her girlhood, was brought by her parents from her Ohio home to Owen county, Indiana. The elder Mr. Shaley first located in Philadelphia, and after a short residence in that city settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His first business venture was to connect himself with a general store at Isle Royal, in the Lake Superior region, and thence, in the early fifties (about 1853) he became a resident of Terre Haute. From that time until his death he was prominently identified with its business life, during most of the period as a grocer located at the corner of Eighth and Poplar streets. But it was not alone in business matters that Frederick W. Shaley, Sr., was honored ; for he was for many years one of the active and strong figures in the work of the German Reformed church. He was long an elder in the local organization and one of the most influential lay members of the committee which harmonized the differences between the two branches of the church in the United States and effected a union of them into one compact body.
Dr. Shaley was the eldest of four children who grew to mature years. In his youth he attended the city schools of Terre Haute and the Mission House College, a German institution of Franklin, Wisconsin, re- maining three years at the latter, from which he graduated in 1876. He then entered Heidelberg University, at Tiffin, Ohio, pursued therein a classical course covering four years and graduated with the class of 1881. His next educational step was to commence the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Armstrong, and in 1882 he became a student at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated with his professional degree in 1884. His degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine were fairly earned, and when he graduated in medicine and located for practice in Terre Haute he had laid a broad foundation for future development. His thorough preparation has since been justified in those practical results which have marked him as a skillful physician and surgeon, and a man of adaptable character who is at home with all classes and able to inspire them with confidence and respect. The
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Doctor is a member of the Vigo County and Indiana State Medical societies, the American Medical Association and the Esculapian Medical Society of the Wabash Valley. He is also identified with the surgical staff of St. Anthony's Hospital.
Dr. Shaley was married, February 24, 1886, to Miss Julia Brewer, daughter of N. L. and Harriet (Chidister) Brewer, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of New York, and both of German-English descent. Mrs. Shaley was the first born of their four children, her birth occurring in Tiffin, Ohio, April 10, 1862. Of the four children born to Dr. and Mrs. Shaley one died in infancy and the living are Irene, Agnes B. and Frederick Nelson Shaley. The Doctor's fraternal affiliations connect him with Masonry, the Knights of Pythias, Elks, Knights and Ladies of Honor, and the National Union. He is a Democrat and a mem- ber of the Central Presbyterian church.
CHIARLES CARTER SMITH is one of the pioneer hardware merchants of Terre Haute, whose name has figured long and honorably in connection with the trade interests of this city.
His father established a branch house dealing in general merchandise and tinware here in 1836, under the name of Smith & Graff. The Smith name has remained a factor in this line of trade. His is an honorable record of a conscientious man, who by his upright life, has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He was born in Vincennes, Indiana. February 12, 1824, his parents being Nicholas and Hannah (Foster) Smith. The father a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was born in 1790 and was the only son of Peter Smith, who was also an only son and was born in Inverness, Scotland. His wife was a Carter, one of the Colonial families of New Jersey and Virginia. He was the founder of this branch of the family in America, settling in New Jersey in Colonial days. He lost his life by drowning in the Passaic river, in 1826. Hannah Foster, the mother of our subject, was a native of Ohio and was of English-Irish lineage. Her father was Gabriel Foster, his wife Pamelia Campbell.
Early in the eighteenth century, Nicholas Smith came to the west and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Near there he was married to Hannah Foster, whose family had also become residents of Hamilton county. In ISI8, when Indiana was admitted to the Union, Nicholas removed to Vincennes, then one of the most flourishing trading posts of the state, where he engaged in dealing in merchandise and tinware. He was also otherwise connected with the early development of the locality. He engaged in packing pork, which he shipped by flat boat to the New Orleans
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market. Both he and his wife died in Vincennes. The death of Mr. Smith occurred in the early seventies, while his wife survived for nine years.
Charles Carter Smith was reared in Vincennes, Indiana and attended the Catholic schools. Father Shassie ( well known here) was one of his early teachers. Later he attended the Crosby school. His school days were cut short by financial difficulties of his father. His first experience in business was in the dry goods and general store of Mr. William Burtch, where he remained two years, then he went to his father's assistance and by his frugal management his father was relieved of his embarrassment.
In 1856 he took up his abode in Terre Haute and with his brother, G. Foster Smith, now deceased, took charge of the business which had been founded twenty years before. In 1865 the firm of G. F. & C. C. Smith dissolved, the senior partner going into business for himself further up Main street, while C. C. Smith continued the business at the old location, a partnership having been formed with J. P. Townly which lasted until Mr. Townley withdrew and moved to Kansas City. From 1873 to 1879 the firm was known as Smith & Townley. In 1887 he removed to the corner of Wabash and Third streets, at which time the firm of C. C. Smith & Son was organized, Nicholas Smith becoming the junior partner. Business was thus carried on until 1893, when Charles C. Smith retired from the active management of the firm. Then the hardware was added and the firm style changed to that of C. C. Smith's Sons Company, with Nicholas and Heber S. Smith as partners. In 1896 Heber S. Smith died, and while the firm name remains the same, Nicholas Smith is the only member.
In early manhood Charles C. Smith was married to Miss Phebe Sand- ford, who was born in Edgar county, Illinois, January 14, 1824, and was a daughter of General Isaac Sandford, a native of Long Island, whence he removed to Cincinnati and entered the banking house of Gilmore Brothers, his brothers-in-law, moving to Edgar county, Illinois, in 1829. He served in the Black Hawk war in 1832, commanded the First Regiment, Second Brigade, afterwards general of militia. He was a prime mover in extending the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad. Later he purchased large tracts of land in Illinois, becoming owner of over 11,000 acres. Ilis labors were an important element in the early development and progress of the section where he operated. He married Miss Belinda Foster, daughter of Judge Luke Foster. General Sandford died in 1852 and his widow passed away in 1866. Their daughter, Mrs. Smith, was called to her final rest in 1901.
Their children were Nicholas, born in Vincennes: Laura, who was born in Terre Haute; Heber S., now deceased, who was born in Terre
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Haute, and Harriet, who was born in Terre Haute and is now the wife of John S. Talbot, a resident of Chicago, Illinois.
Mr. Smith has long since rounded the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. In fact he has reached the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey, but although the snows of many winters have whitened his hair, in spirit and interests he seems a man of much younger age. The evening of life does not necessarily suggest weakness or inactivity or even want of occupation or helplessness. There is an old age that is a benediction to all that comes in contact with it, that gives out of its rich stores of learning and experience and grown stronger intellectually and spiritually as the years pass. Such is the life of Charles C. Smith-an en- couragement to his associates and an example well worthy of emulation to the young.
ALGERNON NICHOLAS SMITH is the worthy successor of his father in the hardware trade and is now conducting a large and profitable business in that line. He was born in Vincennes, April 23, 1856. In the same year his parents removed to this city and he acquired his education in the public schools. When eighteen years of age he entered his father's store and continued in the establishment through the different changes and through the process of development to what is now the largest and oldest establishment of its kind in the city. He made it his purpose to master the business in principal and detail and gradually greater responsibilities were given him and with a partnership interest he also became very active in the management, and when his father retired was at the head of the business. He was associated with his brother in the ownership of the store for some time and following his brother's death has since been alone. Aside from his mercantile interests Mr. Smith is a director in the Fort Harrison Building and Loan Association, a director in the Union Hospital and a member of the Commercial and Young Business Men's clubs. His interests thus touch many affairs of moment to the community. He likewise belongs to the Country Club, while in Masonic circles he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Smith was married in 1889, to Miss Phila Wise, of Vincennes, a daughter of Augustus Wise. Their home is the center of a cultured society circle. Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in commercial circles in Terre Haute than does A. N. Smith, not alone by reason of the success which he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business principles he has ever followed. Mr. Smith possesses the requisite qualities for the advancement
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of his interests in keeping with the onward march of the times and his record proves conclusively that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and unwearied industry.
CHARLES VERNON DORSEY, a salesman in the interest of the Baker Medicine and Extract Company, of Keokuk, Iowa, and a prominent and well known business man of Vigo county, was born in Prescott, Shelby county, Indiana, June 6, 1871, to William and Ellen (Finney) Dorsey. The father moved from his native county of Butler, Ohio, where his birth had occurred on the 17th of December, 1838, to Clinton county, Indiana, in 1849, and was married to Ellen Finney on the 7th of Septem- ber, 1865, in Richmond. She was born in Ohio, in 1844, and died Feb- ruary 5. 1877, at Frankfort, Indiana. A short time after his marriage Mr. Dorsey removed with his young wife from Richmond to Frankfort, locating on a farm just northeast of the city, where he still resides, but is now living retired. When a lad of eighteen years he began teaching school, holding one of the highest grade certificates issued at that time, and he continued his educational labors for about ten years. It was at the close of that period that he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. and stock raising, principally hogs, having been very successful in the latter calling. His estate consists of seventy acres. On the 28th of October, 1885, Mr. Dorsey wedded Ruth Waddell, who was born near Frankfort, October 6, 1862, and they have become the parents of three children: Garnet, born April 4, 1888, is a resident of Terre Haute and is also associated with the Baker Medicine and Extract Company : Lore, born August 24, 1889, is at home, and Helen, born May 28. 1895, is also at home. Mrs. Dorsey had two children by her former marriage, Bruce and Grace Waddell. Four children were born to Mr. Dorsey by his first marriage, namely: Anna, born September , 17, 1866, died October 22, 1894; Harry E., born August 24, 1869. makes his home with his brother and is a general salesman in Parke county for the Baker Medicine Company : Charles Vernon, of this review, and Pearl, born October 22, 1874, is the wife of Samuel Schenck and resides just east of Frankfort. The wife and mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Chares V. Dorsey spent the period of his boyhood and youth on the homestead farm, and when he had attained the age of sixteen he began working as a farm hand during the summer months and continued his studies in the district school during the winters. When nineteen he went to Denver, Colorado, and became associated as a lineman with the
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