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 48
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shipments, their business reaching out to various parts of the country. Their headquarters were at first on the site of the present plant of the Fouts & Hunter Company, at the corner of Third and Walnut streets. They later branched out and established a second stable at Second and Cherry streets and a third on Wabash avenue east of Eighth street, where they erected another building. The permit for the erection of this build- ing was the first one issued under the city government. At this location they extended the scope of their activities to include an undertaking es- tablishment. Their original stables at the intersection of Third and Wal- nut streets were opposite the old Buntin House, which, in those days, was the leading hotel in Terre Haute. It was the time of stage- coach travel, and while the Buntin House was caring for the welfare of the travelers the firm of Fouts & Hunter took care of the stage coach horses. In 1874 the firm rented the Terre Haute stables and the partners went to St. Louis, where they established two large stables and engaged extensively in the general sale of horses and mules, buying and shipping in carload lots to all parts of the country and even engaging in the ex- port trade to some extent. This venture, however, proved a failure, and the company lost more than $75,000 in the enterprise. They returned to Terre Haute with an indebtedness of $40,000 and no assets. However, after a time they began operations on a small scale. In December, 1877, they secured a contract from the United States government to supply the cavalry with horses, and this contract materially assisted them on their way toward prosperity again. They resumed business at their old loca- tion at the corner of Walnut and Third streets, and about this time a Cin- cinnati (Ohio) manufactory began making buggies on the plan of dupli- cating the parts. This was the beginning of the era of "cheap" buggies, and it was Colonel Hunter who introduced these cheap buggies into In- diana. While the firm was conducting the livery and stock business at Terre Haute, Colonel Hart would go to Cincinnati and purchase buggies from the factory by the carload, bring them to Terre Haute and auction them off at public sale on Saturdays. Ile would also tie a string of vehi- cles together, haul them to the neighboring towns and county seats and sell them at auction. Thus the firm of Fouts & Hunter gradually drifted into the carriage and vehicle trade and Colonel Ilunter was well qualified for the conduct of a business of this kind, for he was himself a prac- tical blacksmith, having served an apprenticeship and worked at the trade in his younger days, so that he knew of the value of work of that character. The firm had entered upon a second era of prosperity, when in 1893 their place of business was destroyed by fire. Following this the company abandoned the livery and stock business and rebuilt the present brick factory, after which they confined their attention to the carriage and
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vehicle trade. They soon developed a large and profitable business and at one period made a specialty of building what they named the Mikado wagon, which soon gained wide popularity and proved a very market- able product. They sold over five thousand of these wagons in Vigo county alone. The firm continued uninterruptedly in the successful busi- ness until the death of Colonel Hunter on the 28th of July, 1895. He was a man of marked enterprise, who recognized opportunities which others passed by heedlessly, and who in the improvement of the chances which came to him worked his way upward from comparative obscurity to busi- ness prominence .. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow, prominent in the ranks of these fraternities, and was also deservedly popular as a man and citizen.
Colonel Hunter was married in Terre Haute, September 17, 1865, to Miss Callie Fouts, whose birth occurred at Connersville, Indiana, May I, 1849. Her father, Andrew B. Fouts, was a native of Union county. Born in 1820, he was a son of William Fouts, a native of North Caro- lina. In 1786 his grandfather Hawkins was with Lewis and Clark in their fight against the French and Indians at Vincennes, Indiana. At the age of nine years Andrew Fouts rode horseback from his home in Indiana to Charleston, South Carolina, with a drove of horses. In 1838 he was appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but resigned in favor of him who was afterward General Burnside of Civil war fame. Mr. Fouts engaged in the livery business at Con- nersville, Indiana, in 1843, and in the early sixties came to Terre Haute, where he established a livery business with his brother. In 1871 he be- came a member of the Terre Haute city council and was prominently iden- tified with community affairs as a citizen whose work was of helpful im- port. On the 6th of January, 1847, he married Miss Sarah A. Frybar- ger, who was born in Connersville, Indiana, August 7, 1824, a daughter of George Frybarger, who was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, and settled in Connersville as early as 1811. Prominent in the pioneer development of the state, he was for many years a banker and prominent citizen of that town. He married Miss O'Neil, whose family came from the north of Ireland and settled in Tennessee. Mrs. Fouts, mother of Andrew B. Fouts, became a resident of Indiana in 1818 and lived to reach the very advanced age of ninety-six years. The death of Andrew B. Fouts oc- curred May 30, 1898, and thus passed away one of the most prominent pioneer citizens.
William A. Hunter, whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the common and high schools of Terre Haute, and also spent one year at Harcourt College, Gambier, Ohio. In 1884 he took charge of the books of the Fouts & Hunter Company, and in 1887 purchased the
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livery stock of the old company. The following year he removed to the Filbeck stable on Cherry street adjoining the old Filbeck Hotel, and in 1891 he admitted Harry Pinkley, now deceased, to a partnership in the business. The following year they removed to the new building on Ohio street between Fifth and Sixth, which was erected for them by D. W. Minshall. There Mr. Hunter continued actively in business until 1893. when he purchased his partner's interest and was sole proprietor until 1901, when he closed out his interests in that line to give his entire at- tention to the business of the corporation of the Fouts & Hunter Carriage Manufacturing Company, of which he had become practical manager in 1895. In May, 1895, the business of Fouts & Hunter was incorporated, with Colonel Hunter as president, and following his demise A. B. Fouts was chosen to the presidency, continuing in the position until his demise, when William A. Hunter became president. The Fouts & Hunter Car- riage Manufacturing Company is a thoroughly organized and system- atized interest, meeting with splendid success. They handle all classes of vehicles, making a specialty of a storm-top buggy of their own patent and doing business exclusively through mail orders. Their main plant is 67 by 240 feet, two and a half stories high, and built of brick, and in addition they have a warehouse 65 by 30 feet. Their business is con- stantly developing along substantial lines and has reached mammoth pro- portions, making it one of the most important commercial enterprises of Terre Haute.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Hunter married Miss Della Ray, and unto them have been born two children, William Ray and Eliza- beth C. Hunter. In his social relations Mr. Hunter is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, and is a member of the Commercial and Young Business Men's clubs, through which organizations he contributes in substantial measure to the upbuilding and improvement of the city in business lines. Honored and respected by all, he occupies a most enviable position in the regard of his contemporaries and associates, who recognize his superior executive force and business ability, his keen discernment and unwearied industry. He displays much of the spirit of initiative in con- trolling and enlarging his business and as the years go by is meeting with a most merited and gratifying success.
HARRISON J. LAMBERT was born on what is now the site of Fontanet, btit at that time a town had not been thought of nor had a railroad yet penetrated into this community. His birth occurred on the 18th of Jan- uary, 1860, and he is a son of Josiah and Margaret (Adams) Lambert. The mother died when her son was but a small child, and the father sur- vived until the 25th of April. 1875. He was born in Kentucky in 1800
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and came to Vigo county with his parents when eight years of age. After his marriage he farmed on rented land for a year, and then entered be- tween three and four hundred acres of land from the government, con- tinuing to farm throughout the years of his business career. But in later years, in 1865, he began the undertaking business, and continued that oc- cupation in connection with his farming until his death.
Harrison J. Lambert, the youngest of his sixteen children and the only one now living, was about fifteen years of age when he began work- ing as an undertaker with his father. He learned the business at the Massachusetts School of Embalming, but after his father's death the busi- ness was sold and the son continued on a part of the home estate for two years, when he abandoned farming to engage as a carpenter and con- tractor, following those occupations during the summer months and work- ing in the coal mines in the winter. The first mine ever sunk near Fon- tanet was located on his father's land, and the son has plowed the ground many times where the town now stands. In 1896 he began again in the undertaking and general mercantile business, continuing until 1904, when his mercantile business was burned and he never rebuilt. When the Du- pont powder mills blew up on October 15, 1907, his home was turned into an emergency hospital. In 1904 he was elected by the Democratic party a township trustee, and in addition to discharging the duties of that office he also conducts a livery barn. He now owns five acres of land, his liv- ery barn and his residence.
Mr. Lambert married, January 15, 1884, Mary E. Ferries, who was born in this township February II, 1863, a daughter of William and Nancy ( Lambert) Ferries, the mother deceased and the father is now living with his children. They have four children, namely: Oakie J., who was born June 28, 1886, and is now the wife of Samuel Wiggins, of Fontanet ; George M., born February 22, 1888, at home; Burton, born May 12, 1891, has completed his common school training and is at home ; Lethia L., born January 16, 1896. They also have one grandchild. Mr. Lambert is a member of the Knights of Pythias order, Lodge No. 147, at Fontanet ; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 670, at Fontanet ; the Junior Order of American Mechanics at that place ; and the Knights and Ladies of Security of America at Brazil, Indiana.
JOHN ALL .- For many years the All family have been prominent in the varied interests of Vigo county, but they came originally from the Blue Grass state of Kentucky, the birthplace of Aquilla All, the grandfather of John. Aquilla All was a millwright, and followed that occupation dur- ing the greater part of his business life, spending his later years in Sulli- van county, Indiana.
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Benjamin All, a son of Aquilla, was also born in Kentucky, May 15, 1805, and his deathi occurred on the 2d of June, 1882. He followed agricul- ture for a livelihood, and it was about 1842 that he came north to Sullivan county, Indiana, and from there came in 1857 to Pierson township, Vigo county, and purchased eighty acres of land. He lived on that farm dur- ing the remainder of his life, the land lying just a little west of where his son John now lives. He was a Democrat and a Baptist, an active church worker, and many of the meetings of the denomination were held at his home. He was loved and honored by all who knew him, and his acquaintances were many. He was both a farmer and veterinary surgeon, and enjoyed quite an extensive practice. The wife of Benjamin All bore the maiden name of Isabelle Norman, and was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, June 15, 1829, and died on the 13th of March, 1904. They became the parents of eight children, as follows: James William, de- ceased ; Grayson, deceased ; Benjamin, Jr., who married Anna Guisinger ; Joseph, who married Rebecca Du Vall, and lives in Linton township ; John, the subject of this review ; Martha J., the wife of John Shaffer, of Terre Haute : Hezekiah, who married Effie Shewmaad, of Pierson township ; and Isaac, who married Pauline Holsten, and their home is in Clay county, Indiana.
John All was born in Jackson township, Sullivan county, Indiana, October 15, 1858, and after his marriage he continued his residence with his mother and working the home place until he bought forty acres of land in 1890 and moved to his present homestead. His estate now con- tains one hundred and seventeen and a half acres, all in Pierson town- ship. The place is devoted to general grain farming, over which Mr. All has supervision, but his time is principally devoted to his law practice. For over twenty-five years he has practiced at the bar of Vigo county, and the success which he has attained as a legal practitioner is due cil- tirely to his own unaided efforts, for in his early years he received but a common school education, and purchasing some law books studied at home until he became well versed in the principles of jurisprudence. And to his credit it may be mentioned he won the first case on which he was employed. Mr. All is a Democrat politically and after serving by appointment as trustee of Pierson township he was elected to the office in 1901, and again in 1904.
He married, April 27, 1883, Alice Liston, who was born March 3. 1863, in the house where she now lives, the daughter of G. W. and Dolly Liston, both now deceased. The two children of this union are Otis and Hallie. The son, born August 8, 1885, resides in Pierson township. IIc married Ola Sharp, now deceased. Hallie, born August 1, 1889, is the
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wife of Guy Weddle, also of Pierson township. Mr. All has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Comet Lodge, No. 515, at Lewis, Indiana ; with the Knights of Pythias, Lewis Lodge, No. 511, at Lewis, in which he has filled several of the offices; and with the Red Men's Lodge at the same place.
JAMES M. ROBERTSON .- The Robertson family of Vigo county, of which James M. Robertson is a representative, was founded here by Lane and Sarah Ann (Durham) Robertson, who came from North Caro- lina to Ohio and were married there. Soon afterward they came to In- diana, locating nineteen miles east of Indianapolis, where they were farm- ing people. Mrs. Robertson was of French and Scotch descent, and in their family were six children, as follows: Thomas, the father of James M. Robertson; Mary, deceased ; George, who answered the first call for soldiers in the Civil war, serving three years, and he is now deceased ; Ralph, who served for three years in the same company with his brother, both going with Sherman on his march to the sea, and he now resides in Washington; Walter, who farms the old homestead east of Indian- apolis, and John, who enlisted in the regular army in 1864, served five years, and was assassinated just one week after his discharge.
Thomas Robertson, their eldest son and child, was born in Butler county, Ohio, November 5, 1834, and died January 3, 1896. He was but thirteen years of age when he left home to serve an apprenticeship of three years at the carpenter's trade, and he continued as a contractor, carpenter and farmer until 1870, when he retired from an active business life. At his death he owned a large estate of seven hundred acres. He was a Republican, for twenty years a Royal Arch Mason and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the 23d of May, 1860, Mr. Robertson married Eliza J. Simmons, who was born September 12, 1840, in Clark county, Illinois, and eight children were born to them, namely: John, deceased; James M., of whom further mention is made below : Martin and Bell, deceased ; Mary E., the wife of Harlow Jones, of Terre Haute; Cora J., the wife of J. C. Hartzler, of Prairieton town- ship ; Lane, at the head of the Indiana Music Company and a resident of Terre Haute, and Archie, deceased.
James M. Robertson was born in Prairie Creek township, Vigo county, November 26, 1863, and he remained at home with his parents until his marriage, at that time locating on forty acres of his present estate in Prairie Creek township. The boundaries of the farm have since been increased to two hundred and thirty acres, and he is chiefly engaged in grain farming. In 1895 Mr. Robertson left the farm and spent two
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years in Terre Haute as a grocery merchant, returning at the close of that period to the homestead, and with the exception of one year in Prairieton he has remained here ever since.
He married, October 28, 1885, Melissa E. Kruzan, who was born March 28, 1867, a daughter of Alfred and Margaret (Wheatley) Kruzan. Her paternal great-grandfather, Isaac Kruzan, and her grandfather came to Indiana from Virginia and located in Vigo county. The latter lived on one farm here for sixty years, and was a resident here when the first rails were laid for the Vandalia Railroad. Nine children were born to Alfred and Margaret (Wheatley) Kruzan, as follows: Horace, a resi- dent of Warrensburg, Illinois; Eliza, of Terre Haute; Melissa, who be- came the wife of Mr. Robertson; Benjamin, of Youngstown, Indiana ; Anna, whose home is in Prairie Creek township, Vigo county ; Clara, deceased ; Laura, also of Prairie Creek township; Mary, whose home is in Prairieton township, and William, of Honey Creek township, Vigo county. Nine children have also been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson : Norman, born April 17, 1886; Ida M., November 16, 1887; Edith, Sep- tember 29, 1889; Augustus, April 15, 1892; James, May 3. 1895 ; Marie, August 12, 1897 ; Charlotte, March 14, 1901 ; Louis, September 2, 1903, and Dorothy, October 16, 1906. Four of the children completed the course in the Prairieton school, and the eldest son, Norman, also pur- sued courses in the Commercial College at Terre Haute, and the Agri- cultural College at Purdue University. Two of the daughters were students in the State Normal, and the elder has taught four terms of school and the younger two. Mr. Robertson is a Republican politically, and both he and his son Norman are members of the fraternal Order of Odd Fellows, Prairieton Lodge, No. 825. He also has membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America at Prairieton, and with his wife and five children is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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