USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 75
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
EDWIN BOGEN PFAU.
Edwin Bogen Pfau, born June 2, 1867, is the brother-in-law of Albert Krell. He is a son of John M. and Wilhelmina (Bogen) Pfau, the former being a native of Germany and the latter a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. On June 11, 1889, Edwin B. Pfau was united in marriage with Stella S., daughter of Charles W. and Abbie (Brown) Longley. She was born in Sidney, Maine, June 12, 1868. Edwin B. and Stella S. (Longley) Pfau are the parents of three children, namely: Walter L., born October 20, 1891; Helen J., born December 26, 1893, and Mildred, born September 7, 1895.
Mr. Pfau was educated in the schools of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the well- known Woodward High School of that city. He was reared in the Lutheran Church, his parents being members of that great denomination. He is not himself a member of any religious organization, but usually attends the regular services of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He belongs to no secret societies or orders. He is a Republican in politics and uniformly supports the policies of that political organization.
74
1170
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Mr. Pfau is a practical accountant and obtained his start in life as accountant and business manager of Buhr, Wendte and Company, wholesale confectioners of Cincin- nati, with whom he remained from 1884 to 1895. He then became bookkeeper and cashier of the Krell Piano Company, Cincinnati, which position he occupied until the organiza- tion of the Krell-French Piano Company, at Springfield, Ohio, in 1901, when he went to that company. He continued with them, as is related in the foregoing article regard- ing Mr. Krell, until the organization of the Krell Auto-Grand Piano Company, of which he is now secretary and treasurer, and to which his whole time is devoted.
It is a notable cicumstance that in 1896 Mr. Pfau was elected a director in the Krell Piano Company of Cincinnati, which position he has held from that time to the present. The success of the companies with which Mr. Pfau has been connected as accountant, di- rector and officer is in large measure due to his careful, methodical and prudent business management.
II7I
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOSIAH WARD MAXIM.
ONE OF NEW CASTLE'S EARLY MANUFACTURERS AND ENTERPRISING CITIZENS.
It is a far step from the town of Wayne, Maine, to New Castle, Indiana-from the "Pine Tree" to the "Hoosier" State; from "away down East" to the used to be "away out West"; yet there are those who have made the venture and profited greatly thereby. Emigration from the far eastern States of Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hamp- shire and Massachusetts to any part of Indiana, especially in the early times, was so in- frequent as to be hardly worth mentioning. The movement of the people from those States somehow flowed in another direction, going largely to the northwestern States of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and later to Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. It was a different class of people who came in pioneer times to Indiana, being repre- sentatives, almost entirely, of Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ken- tucky and Ohio. In later years, however, when the country had been more fully set- tled and developed, other classes of immigrants came into the State, among them being a number from the old New England States.
In the meantime the Indiana wilderness had given way to splendid farms; a net- work of railroads had hound together all of the counties of the State; the discovery of immense beds of coal, of fine building stone, underground stores of natural gas, coal oil and medicinal waters led to great manufacturing enterprises; her public schools, colleges, universities and scientific institutions, all hearing a national reputation, had greatly enhanced the reputation of the State and placed it very close to the front rank among the States of the American Union.
The wave of literary activity that has swept over the State and characterized its later years has also disseminated the reputation of Hoosierland to far away points and attracted to the State the keen down-east Yankee looking for favorable locations and possible investments. It was this increased knowledge floating from the West to the East that brought Josiah Ward Maxim from Maine to Indiana. He located at New Cas- tle, Henry County, where he has become identified with its industrial, civic and social interests.
The Maxims came originally from England and Nathan Maxim, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Wareham, Massachusetts, about the year 1750. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. His son, Ephraim Maxim, the grandfather of Josiah Ward Maxim, was born in Wareham, but moved to Wayne, Maine, about the year 1790. The grandmother, Susan Maxim, was a native of Massachusetts. Ephraim and Susan Maxim were the parents of nine children, namely: Ephraim, Silas, Roland, Andrew, Phoebe, Jemima, Sarah, Clarissa and Ruth. Ephraim (second), the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Wayne, Maine, in 1800, and married Ruth Bellington, of Concord, New Hampshire, where she was born in 1809. They were married at Wayne in 1829 and to them were born the following children: Leonard H. (1830), Olive A. (1832), Luther (1834), Ephraim H. (1836), George A. (1839), Josiah Ward (1846) and Mary K. (1849).
Josiah Ward Maxim, more generally known as J. Ward Maxim, was born Septem- ber 19, 1846, and was united in marriage with Florence E. Macomber (born in Winthrop, Maine, August 26, 1853) at Winthrop, December 22, 1878, and the fruits of this union were: Ethel V., born at Wayne, Maine, March 22, 1880; Helen B., born in New Castle, Indiana, April 19, 1884, and Edna L., born in New Castle, December 30, 1890.
J. Ward Maxim with his wife and one child, Ethel V., came directly to New Cas- tle, Indiana, in 1882 from Buckfield, Maine, where he had been engaged in the handle business in partnership with the late Holman W. Waldron, under the firm name of Maxim and Waldron. In conjunction with Mr. Waldron he established a handle fac- tory in New Castle, which commenced business January 1, 1883. The partners continued this business until the death of Mr. Waldron in 1888, when Mr. Maxim took over the business and continued it alone until he disposed of it to William C. Bond in February, 1902. The handle business was a new one in New Castle and Henry County and in it Mr. Maxim was eminently successful. Touching the life and character of his partner,
1172
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Mr. Waldron, it may be said that he merited and received that recognition due to gen- uine worth from all those with whom he had business or social relations. During the Civil War he was a soldier in Company C, 23d Maine Infantry, and in Company E, 32d Maine Infantry. On page 580 of this History his military record will be found appro- priately set forth. In this connection it is also worth while to mention the late George H. Maxim, who came to New Castle with his uncle, J. Ward Maxim, and who was dur- ing the later years of his young life foreman of the handle factory. He was born on Long Island, New York, and was married June 7, 1893, to Kate, daughter of Captain Wil- liam F. Shelley, of New Castle, Indiana. They were the parents of one child, which died in infancy. George Maxim died April 17, 1903. He was an excellent young man, attentive to duty and held in the very highest esteem by his numerous friends and as- sociates. He was a member of New Castle Lodge, Number 91, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; New Castle Chapter, Number 50, Royal Arch Masons, and of New Castle Commandery, Number 44, Knights Templar. He was an enthusiastic working mem- ber and delighted in giving to the ceremonies of the order that character designed to make the strongest and most lasting impression.
Ethel V., the eldest daughter of J. Ward Maxim, is a very accomplished young lady, who was married to Joseph A. Greenstreet, June 18, 1902, the Reverend Chauncey King, the then pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of New Castle, performing the ceremony. This union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, Dorothy, born De- cember 24, 1904, who is the pride of two households. Joseph A. Greenstreet is a na- tive of Henry County and was for a number of years a teacher. He then became super- intendent of the Henry County schools and prior to moving to Richmond, Indiana, where he now resides with his family, he was associated with Mark O. Waters on the New Castle Courier, of which they were editors and proprietors. He is now connected with Mr. Maxim in the Richmond Handle Factory, established in 1902. This concern at its organization consisted of J. Ward Maxim, Joseph A. Greenstreet and George H. Maxim. Mr. Greenstreet now has the sole management of the factory and is doing a very successful business.
Mr. Maxim, who seems to have a predilection for the handle business, is also in- terested in a handle factory at Lewiston, Maine, under the firm name and style of the Lewiston Handle Factory. This company has a capital of fifty thousand dollars. Its president is Frank B. Norris and its secretary and treasurer is Howard L. Holmes. These two with Mr. Maxim constitute the directorate. The concern is doing a very sat- isfactory business.
For several years it has been the custom of Mr. Maxim and family to spend the greater portion of their summers at his birthplace in Wayne. Maine, a very popular resort, located near the Androscoggin and Pocasset lakes, both beautiful bodies of water, where fishing is good and boating delightful.
Mr. Maxim has been, from the date of his arrival at New Castle, one of its fore- most and active citizens. Every enterprise having for its object the advancement of the interests of the town and county has had his cordial support. He was the prime promoter of the erection of the Maxim Building, which bears his name, and he is the president of the Maxim Building Company, which was organized with a capital of twen- ty-five thousand dollars, and has twice that amount invested in this fine office building. It is a large, four-story, modern business block, the lower floors being used for mercan- tile purposes, the second and third floors for offices and the entire fourth floor by the Improved Order of Red Men, Iroquois Lodge, Number 97, New Castle, giving them large and spacious quarters, second in arrangement and fittings to no other in eastern Indiana. The building is a splendid addition to the business center of New Castle, be- ing located immediately south of the public square between the Masonic Temple and the Alcazar Theater on the one hand and the well known Bundy House on the other. This building reflects credit upon the enterprise of Mr. Maxim and his associates.
Mr. Maxim is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and that denomina- tion is largely indebted to him for the splendid edifice in which its members now wor- ship. He is a member of New Castle Lodge, Number 91, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; of New Castle Chapter, Number 50, Royal Arch Masons; of New Castle Com-
1173
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
mandery, Number 44, Knights Templar, and has taken the Scottish Rite degrees and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to Crescens Lodge, Number 33, Knights of Pythias, New Castle. Mr. Maxim was at one time the president of the First National Bank of New Castle and is now one of the directors of that institution and as such gives to its affairs his careful attention and supervision.
Mr. Maxim and his family occupy a delightful home on South Main Street, New Castle, where he dispenses that genuine hospitality characteristic of those who are reared in the old "Pine Tree" State. That he is a Republican in politics is emphasized by the fact that he is a native of that State which for long years grandly supported the great chieftain, James G. Blaine, of whom it has heen often said that he was "the first of American citizens"; of that State about which it was so often proclaimed: "As goes Maine, so goes the Union," and that other equally famous political slogan, "Maine went hell-bent for Governor Kent."
Mr. Maxim is a relative of the world famous inventor, Hiram S. Maxim, who was born in Sangersville, Maine, February 5, 1840, being the son of Isaac W. and Harriet B. Maxim. This family was a very poor one and engaged in an incessant struggle for the necessaries of life. It is said that the mother was an "expert weaver, spinner, dyer and seamstress" and that the father was "a trapper, tanner, miller, blacksmith, carpen- ter, mason and farmer." Hiram, the son, early exhibited great mechanical skill and with no other tool than the ordinary Yankee jack knife produced such articles of his handiwork as to excite the wonder of the people of the little town where he was born. He became a coach builder, served some time subsequently in a machine shop, labored in a scientific instrument manufactory at Boston, likewise in the Novelty Iron Works Shipbuilding Company at New York, and during all this period of his life made a number of useful inventions, but the one which has secured the foremost place in the estimation of the public is the now celebrated Maxim rapid-fire gun, which automatically loads itself and fires seven hundred and seventy shots a minute. Out of this great invention came the Maxim-Nordenfelt Gun Company with a capital of nine millions of dollars. He. has taken out numerous patents of various kinds, more than one hundred of them being for smokeless gunpowder and for petroleum and other motors and auto- cycles.
In concluding this sketch of J. Ward Maxim it is pertinent to state that he is far seeing, practical and progressive. He keeps step with the march of improvement, watches with great interest the growth and prosperity of the town and county, the State and the Nation, and so far as possible liberally supports every movement having for its object the good of the community. He is noted for his vigor of mind and body, for his excellent social qualities and for his good citizenship.
1174
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN RUSSELL MILLIKAN, HIS ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS.
A PROMINENT AND INFLUENTIAL FAMILY OF HENRY COUNTY.
The Millikan family was one of the most prominent in the early history and devel- opment of Henry County and at the present day its numerous descendants are still con- tributing to the material, moral and intellectual life and prosperity of the county in no small degree, particularly in that part of it which comprises Liberty Township, the larg- est and in some respects the most highly improved and richest section of the county. This township is noted for its well-to-do citizens, past and present, many of whom have had more than local fame and reputation, while of the present generation, a number have reached positions of trust and responsibility in the community and have been honored with unusual marks of public confidence. This family has always been distinguished by certaîn marked characteristics, its several members displaying a quickness of percep- tion, soundness of judgment and determination to accomplish results, which have kept them in the van of the county's progress.
The ancestors of the Millikan family were William and Eleanor Millikan, who be- longed to the colonial period of American History. They were the parents of the fol- lowing named children: Alexander, Elihu, George, Solomon, Samuel, Ell, father of the late Nathan Millikan, William, Hannah, afterwards wife of William Canaday, and Nellie, afterwards wife of Jesse Howell. All of the above are deceased.
Alexander Millikan, son of William and Eleanor Millikan, was born in North Caro- lina in 1788 and was taken by his parents to East Tennessee in 1799, where he grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Russell. They were the parents of the following named children: Edith, afterwards wife of Abraham Chaney, both deceased; John Rus- sell; Matilda, afterwards wife of Wesley Stubblefield, both deceased; Hannah, afterwards wife of George Koons, Sr., but now deceased; David, recently deceased; Eli B., deceased; Jane, afterwards wife of Thomas J. Bland, but now deceased; Matthew R., a resident of New Castle; Esther, widow of George H. Messick, now living in New Castle; Malinda, widow'of William Hobson, now living in Kansas; Keziah, now wife of Nathan F. Allen, of Indianapolis; Polly, afterwards wife of William Hedrick, both deceased, parents of Elihu Hedrick, one of the best known and most respected citizens of Liberty Township; and one child which died in infancy.
In 1837, more than sixty eight years ago, Alexander Millikan (born January 18, 1788) immigated to Indiana and settled in Blue River Township, Henry County, about six miles northeast of New Castle, on land which now adjoins the town of Messick, near where his son, John R., and his daughters, Edith and Matilda, with their husbands, were already located. He purchased some land on which a log cabin had already been erected and a few acres of which had been cleared, and there he remained throughout the pioneer days, redeeming the land from the wilderness and from time to time adding other acres to his possessions until he had a farm second to none in the northeastern part of the county. At last, full of years, he relinquished the farm and went to live in Liberty Township with his son, David, where he remained until his death, August 18, 1880, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. He was buried in Batson Cemetery.
JOHN RUSSELL MILLIKAN.
During a life of more than sixty years in Henry County, John Russell Millikan, was one of its best citizens. He was a fine type of that rugged band of North Carolinians and E'ast Tennesseans who at a very early period left the South, mostly because of their antipathy to slavery, and made their way into the wilderness and established new homes amid the forests of Indiana. He was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, April 27, 1814. His father, Alexander, was of Scotch, and his mother, Elizabeth Russell, of Irish descent. He was a splendid specimen, physically, of American manhood, and when, at the age of twenty one years, he cut the cords that bound him to his Southern home, he was in fine condition to battle his way to that success which eventually rewarded his energy.
A Hillhan
1175
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
When he cast his lot with the early pioneers of Henry County, he had a realizing sense of the herculean task before him in wresting a home from the stubborn wilder- ness, hut he took up the task with a resolution and an energy to which everything must yield. Like that of all pioneers, his life consisted largely of clearing, cultivating and im- proving lands hitherto undisturbed by the hand of man. Of John R. Millikan, another has said: "His mission was labor and work was scarce. He did not repine at his sur- roundings. He had brawn and brains in happy alliance." He brought to Indiana, as his sole earthly possessions, a horse, ten dollars in cash, and a few clothes. His chief capi- tal was strength and pluck, and they never failed him. He chopped cordwood at thirty seven and a half cents a cord, and did whatever came to his hand to do with all his might but always hearing in mind the saying, "there is a better day coming." Steadily but surely, as time came and went, prosperity smiled upon his way. He accumulated a large property and in doing so never forfeited the confidence and warm regard of his friends and neighbors. He was always accounted a good man and a good citizen, straight- . forward, honest and sincere.
After coming to Indiana, he was first a farmer, then a farmer and blacksmith, and to these employments he afterwards added that of raising fine stock, principally cattle and hogs. He spent several Winters in killing hogs and packing pork, having for his associate in the business, and acting as agent for his friend, Ahner D. Bond, of Cam- bridge City, Wayne County, whose subsequent death threw into Mr. Millikan's hands, as administrator, the settlement of his estate, valued at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He was also guardian of the children. He administered this trust for nearly twenty five years in a manner most satisfactory to the parties in interest and was honor- ably discharged by the court at the final settlement of the estate. Before heing associated with Abner D. Bond as above stated he had gained experience in the business mentioned by having been connected in New Castle with Miles, Eli and Clement Murphey. After- ward, in 1874-5, he was for a short time associated in pork packing in New Castle with Smith, Clapper and Shaffer.
Mr. Millikan served as a justice of the peace for eight years with a fairness, firm- ness and impartiality that met with general approval. Politically, he was in accord with the Democratic party until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise in 1854, when he left that narty and joined the Republicans. He was active in support of the latter and was often a delegate to its various political conventions. In 1868 he was elected a member of the lower house of the General Assembly of Indiana, and was re-elected in 1870, serving during the forty sixth and forty seventh regular and special sessions of that body. He was a watchful member and a careful legislator and discharged his duties to the com- plete satisfaction of his constituents.
He was one of the original stockholders of the Citizens' State Bank of New Castle, and assisted in its organization in 1873. He was made president of the bank and held that position until his death. He was a strong advocate of education, having himself felt the lack of instruction in his youth, and was one of the prime movers in securing the adoption of the system of free schools for the county.
On August 5, 1838, John Russell Millikan was married to Martha, daughter of George and Mary (Eller) Koons, who came to Indiana from North Carolina about 1820 and settled on Flatrock, in Liberty Township. John R. and Martha (Koons) Millikan were the parents of the following named children: James W., who sacrificed his young life in defense of his country, the record of whose service in the Civil War will he found in Chapter XVI of this History, and whose name also appears in the Roll of Honor for Henry County; Sarah Jane, wife of Thomas Benton Hunt; Davault K .; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Hamilton Z. Beck; Frank M .; Thomas Benton; Isaac N .; and one child which died in infancy.
Thomas Benton and Sarah Jane (Millikan) Hunt were the parents of: Clay C .; John M .; Clemmie, died at the age of sixteen years; James R .; and George W. (com- monly called "Weh"), who is the representative at Columbus, Ohio, of the Remington Typewriter Company. Clay C. Hunt has for a number of years been identified with the political and social history of Henry County and is now the Register in Bankruptcy for the district composed of the counties of Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hancock, Henry,
II76
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Union and Wayne, with his principal office at New Castle. James R. Hunt is a well known traveling salesman of Indiana, who resides at New Cas- tle, and John M. Hunt lives with his parents on the farm in Liberty Township.
Davault K. Millikan was born May 7, 1844, on the farm of his father in Hancock County, Indiana, where his parents lived for a short time. He married Gertrude, daugh- ter of the late William L. Boyd, a one-time prominent citizen of Henry County. To this marriage have been born two children, a son, Glenn R., and a daughter, Florence.
Hamilton Z. and Mary Elizabeth ( Millikan) Beck are the parents of Ray M. Beck, who resides at Indianapolis, where he is connected with the Smith Premier Typewriter Company, and Frank Willard Beck, who resides at Fort Wayne, where he represents the Smith Premier Typewriter Company in seven counties of northeastern Indiana.
Isaac N. Millikan is a prominent agriculturist and resides on the old home farm in Liberty Township. His wife, Narcissa, is a daughter of James M. and Pamelia (Hunt) . Boyd, pioneers of Henry County. They are the parents of one living child, Imogene, . born January 16, 1889. Two children, Margaret and Wayne, died in infancy.
The home life of John R. Millikan and wife was marked by real happiness. He was a loving husband and father and his children still do honor to his memory, sanctified by a thousand kindnesses. She was a pattern of wifely devotion and by precept and exam- ple taught the beauty and holiness of a Christian life. Under the care of this good woman, the children learned the lessons of virtue and morality which have marked their footsteps through life.
In 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Millikan left their delightful home in the country, where they had lived so long and so happily, and moved to New Castle, where they continued to reside until their deaths. They were for many years members of the Christian Church, to which large and influential religious body they gave their earnest support. Mr. Millikan was a member of the Old Settlers' Association and of the Henry County Historical Society. He served as president of each of those organizations and always took great interest in their maintenance and support.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.