USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County Indiana : From its earliest settlement to the present time with biographical sketches and reference to biographies previously compiled, Volume II > Part 55
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
Carl Solomon Wise was born in Lafayette, Indiana, November 1, 1869, a son of Solomon and Caroline (Wiler) Wise. Besides Carl S. there were two brothers, Victor and Louis, who died in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 14, 1885 ; also two sisters, Bertha and Amelia. Carl S. Wise has been a resident of Cass county and Logansport since September, 1878. His education was acquired in the local schools of Logansport, and also at Toledo, Ohio. At an early date he became familiar with the business conducted by his father, and is one of the leading merchants of the present city of Logansport. Mr. Wise is president of the Logansport Commercial Club, is a trustee of the Home for the Friendless, belongs to the state executive committee for the Business Form of Government, is on the executive committee of the State Board of Charity, and among other business interests is treasurer of the Logansport Heating Company. In politics he is a progressive.
Mr. Wise married Corunna M. Stettiner at Toledo, Ohio, March 6, 1901. Her father was Samnel Stettiner, a wholesaler in Toledo. To their marriage has been born one son, Jack S. Wise, on February 12, 1907. Fraternally Mr. Wise is affiliated with the Masonic Order and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
DENNIS UHL. One of the old and honored residents of Logansport, whose identification with the business interests of Cass county extends over a period of more than half a century, is Dennis Uhl, proprietor of one of this section's best known milling enterprises. Born in Allegheny connty, Maryland, March 26, 1840, he is a son of Joseph and Naomi (Lenhart) Uhl, the latter of whom died when he was a small child, and his father subsequently remarried and in 1851 brought his family West, locating on what is now known as the Jesse Martin farm in Washington township, Cass township, Indiana.
The Uhl family originally emigrated to America from Holland, set- tling on Manhattan Island, then known as New Amsterdam. When the Duke of York changed the name of the Island to New York and drove many of the early settlers away by his heartless persecution, the Uhl family located along the Hudson river, and members thereof subse- quently went to Pennsylvania and Maryland. It was in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland line and adjoining the city of Wellersburg, that Joseph Uhl, the father of Dennis, was born and where
1130
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
he married his first wife. Noami Lenhart was a daughter of a seaman, and of Seotch ancestry, who was supposed to have been lost at sea, while her mother died in giving her birth, the latter being of German ancestry. Naomi was reared in the family of early settlers of Pennsylvania. where she met and married Mr. Uhl, they having four children. After her death, Mr. Uhl married Caroline Miller, in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of eight children. Joseph Uhl was a mill- wright by trade, and sawed the timber in the place known as the "Shades of Death," where Gen. Washington had assumed charge of the Colonial army, this timber being used in the constrnetion of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. After coming to Cass county, he worked at farming for a season in Washington township, and then, in 1852, built an overshot water wheel Honr mill on Minnow Creek, abont four miles southeast of Logans- port. This mill has long since been razed. Mr. Uhl continued to follow his trade, operating a mill, trading in land and building business blocks and other structures in Logansport and elsewhere until his death in 1892. He was a Democrat in politics all of his life and for a term of years acted in the capacity of county commissioner.
Dennis Uhl was eleven years of age when brought to Cass county, and his education was secured in a log school house during winters until he was thirteen years of age, this comprising his entire schooling. His youth and early manhood were passed in assisting to operate his father's mill on Minnow Creek, and when twenty-one years of age he rented the mill there and began operating it on his own responsibility, his father having built the mill in Logansport during the previous year. He was there eighteen months, following which he became a partner in the Logansport mill, under the firm name of Uhl, Cheney & Company, and his connection with this mill has continued to the present time. In 1866 he became a third-owner in the enterprise, and after his father's death he became the sole owner. His partnership with his father covered a period of thirty-eight years, and abont 1900 the mill was incorporated, the stock being all owned by Mr. Uhl and his immediate family. Mr. Uhl is a Democrat in politics, and for seven years served as county con- missioner of Cass county. He also, for fifteen years, was a member of the county board of equalization ; was for ten years a trustee of the State Insane Asyhim at Logansport, and for a term of years was one of the three members of the water works committee of the city of Logansport, and during this time erected the present water works and installed the system.
In 1864 Mr. Uhl was married to Miss Sophia Jane Croll, of Cass county, and to this union there have been born ten children; William C .; Walter J .; Naomi, who died when two years of age; Catherine, who died in 1872; Clara, who married Joseph Herman; Chas. Harry Uhl associated with him in the mill : Florence : Geneva : Leonora, who married Delbert Flynn ; and one child who died in infancy. The family attend divine worship at the Presbyterian church. Mr. Uhl is a valued member of the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He has lived a long and useful life, and ean look back over an honorable career, secure and content in the knowledge that no stain or blemish mars his record.
.
James & Allison.
1131
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
FRANK B. WILKINSON is a comparatively recent resident of Logans- port, but notwithstanding this he has figured prominently during the past decade in the commercial development of the city. He was born in Bel- mont county, Ohio. on the 28th day of May, 1856, and was one of the family of ten children born to William Wilkinson and Mary Ann Leek- liter. Until he was twenty-six years of age Frank B. Wilkinson lived on the home farm. He received his preliminary education in the district schools, his later training being represented by one term at the famous normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. For a time thereafter he taught school, and three years later completed a course in the Chicago School of Pharmacy, after which he engaged in mercantile activities and for a number of years was thus occupied at Belmont, Ohio, of which town he was postmaster as well as the leading druggist. He became secretary and treasurer in 1891 of the Indiana Window Glass Company at Pendle- ton, Indiana, and of the Bell Window Glass Company at Fairmount, Indiana, both corporations being controlled by one concern. Upon the absorption of both firms by the window glass trust in 1889 Mr. Wilkin- son, in the following year, came to Logansport, Indiana, and purchased a one-half interest in and served as secretary and treasurer of the Logans- port Foundry Company, and this city has since represented his home. In 1904 the consolidation of the Logansport Foundry Company and the Rutenber Manufacturing Company created the Western Motor Company. Mr. Wilkinson became president of this corporation in 1906, and served in that office until 1912, since which time he has not been actively engaged in any particular line of enterprise. He is a stockholder and a director in the Logansport Loan and Trust Company and of the City National Bank, and is the second vice president of the first named institution, also a stockholder and director in the American Mortgage and Guarantee Company of Indianapolis.
For many years Mr. Wilkinson has been actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal church as a member, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school in Logansport with excellent results. In many ways he has been closely identified with the growth of the moral, social and commercial welfare of the city, and is justly accounted one of its most valued citizens.
Mr. Wilkinson married Miss Julia E. Lewis, of La Mira, Ohio, and two children have been born to them: Charles H. and Grace Anna, the latter of whom is now the wife of Allen E. Nelson, of Logansport.
JAMES L. ALLISON, M. D., a well known physician and surgeon of Cass county, with residence in Royal Center, Indiana, has been engaged in the practice of his profession since 1891. He came to Royal Center in June. 1910, and in the two and a half years that have elapsed since then has built up a pleasing practice in and about the village. He is the descendant of an old and highly esteemed family, and was born in Madi- son, Wisconsin, on September 17, 1862, the son of Rev. Daniel P. and Mary L. (Pitzer) Allison.
Reverend Allison was prominent in the ministry of the Christian church in his day, and was a man of excellent educational attainments. He also was prominent in politics, and was active in the political circles of the state of Wisconsin, where he held a number of important offices
1132
IIISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
in Dayne county. He was born in the Old Dominion state and educated in her schools, and his wife was an easterner, born in the Empire state. After their marriage they went to Wisconsin, where Reverend Allison's work called him, and he occupied a pulpit in the Christian church of Madison, Wisconsin, for several years. It was in Madison that the subject was born.
James L. Allison was brought to the Hoosier state at an early age, and he received the advantages of the public schools until he finished the high school, then entered Wabash College in Indiana, where he took a literary course, preparatory to a course in medicine, upon which he was already resolved. He later entered the School of Homeopathy, from which he was duly graduated, his course including a year and a half as honse physician in St. Luke's Hospital at Chicago. Dr. Allison was a close student in his college days, and he has never rid himself of the habit of study, but has kept closely in touch with the advance of science as it affected his profession. He has been engaged in practice in Indiana for twenty-one years, having commenced in 1891. He was physician and surgeon at the Harrell Hospital, Noblesville, Indiana.
Dr. Allison is a prominent member of the Masonic order, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Red Men.
In 1881 Dr. Allison was nnited in marriage with Miss Viola Jarrett of Tippecanoe, Indiana, a lady of refinement and splendid characteris- ties. She was educated in the public schools of Indiana, where she was reared. Dr. and Mrs. Allison have two interesting danghters, Pearl, a graduate of the Monticello high school, and now the wife of Merton Hinsley, of Fulton county, Indiana, and Ruby, who is unmarried. Mrs. Allison is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is an earnest worker in its varions departments of activity.
ANTHONY GRUSENMEYER is a native of Alsace, France, now Alsace, Germany, since the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. He was born on May 27, 1832, and is the son of Valentine and Katherine (Schwartz- man) Grusenmeyer. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, died on February 3, 1850. Ten children were born to these parents, only two of which number are now living, Anthony of Logansport and Mrs. Magdalena Leppert of Dayton, Ohio. One son, Joseph, came to the United States in 1835 and was occupied in blacksmith- ing in Buffalo, New York. He came to Indiana in 1852 and located in Logansport, where he passed the remainder of his days. Two others of the children, Michael and Katherine, came to America in 1846, locating at Dayton, Ohio. In Angust. 1850, following the death of the father Michael returned to Alsace and brought the remainder of the family to America. They left their home in Alsace on the 26th day of Angust, 1850, by wagon for Havre, from where they embarked on the Arcadia, a sailing vessel, bound for the United States, their port being New Orleans. After a voyage of four weeks, a storm arose and damaged the vessel to such an extent that they were compelled to put into St. Thomas, West Indies, for repairs. They landed at St. Thomas on the 26th day of October, 1850, and was ready again for sailing on the 6th of December, 1850, and resmied their journey to New Orleans where they arrived on the 23rd of December, and left New Orleans December 25, by steamer for Cincin-
1133
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
nati, Ohio, where they landed on January 6, 1851, their departure from Havre having taken place on September 13th previous. From Cincinnati the mother at once moved to the vicinity of Dayton, where they arrived on the 9th of January, 1851, and buying fourteen acres of land, expected to go into the gardening business. She died on September 9, 1851, less than a year after her arrival in this country.
Anthony Grusenmeyer received a good common school education in his native land, and after coming to America he lived at Dayton until March, 1853, when he made his way to Logansport, Cass county, Indiana, by stage, the prevailing mode of travel in that time. He set about learn- ing the blacksmith trade at once with his brother in Logansport, and he served an apprenticeship of two years with him, then worked for him six years as a wage earner. In that time he accumulated sufficient means to enable him to go into the business for himself, and he continued in the blacksmith business here for thirty-two years, that period including the time he spent while learning the trade, and in the service of his brother. During the passing years he perfected his knowledge of the English language, and acquired a wide acquaintance in the county. He became a Democrat, and in 1884 he was nominated for the office of county treasurer, and elected. He served one term of two years, and suc- ceeded himself in the office, his total service covering a period of four years. He also served one term in the City council of Logansport, from 1872 to 1874. Some two or three years after the expiration of his second term as county treasurer Mr. Grusenmeyer embarked in the grocery bus- iness, in company with his son, Charles X., who is now deceased. Upon the death of Charles, another son, Frederick M., by name, became inter- ested in the business, and Frederick M. and his son, Anthony, are still engaged in the business here. Mr. Grusenmeyer retired from the bus- iness in 1900, since which time he has given his attention to his private interests.
On February 24, 1857, Mr. Grusenmeyer was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Schakome, of Logansport, Rev. Father Wm. Doyle offi- ciating, and nine children were born to them: Mary C., the wife of William Bronson of Detroit ; George F., now deceased; Frederick M., in business in Logansport ; Charles X., deceased; Leonore C., also deceased ; Elizabeth J., the wife of Jacob Graf, of Logansport; Joseph V., Emanuel A., and William H., all deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Grusenmeyer are members of the St. Joseph's Roman Catholic church, and are enjoying the very best of health.
FREDERICK GUY NEEL. Among the younger men who have chosen educational work as their vocation in Cass county, Indiana, Frederick Guy Neel is making rapid progress and it is expected that he will be heard from at no far distant date in his particular field of endeavor. In these days of materialism it is particularly pleasing to find a young man with an inclination for the duties of the educator, and who realizes the importance of his vocation and the possibilities for wholesome good that it holds out.
Born in White county, Indiana, on August 14, 1886, Prof. Frederick Guy Neel is the son of James H. and Susan (Cromer) Neel. The father was born in the vicinity of Idaville, in White county, on Oc- Vol. II-27
1134
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
tober 12, 1855, and the mother, also a native of that county, was born on November 27, 1864. Both received somewhat limited educations in the district schools of their immediate vicinities and the father early learned the carpenter's trade, and when he reached man's estate, gave himself to the contracting and building business. He came to be a resident of Royal Center, in Cass county, in 1911, there engaging in that business, and he is still so occupied. Both of these worthy people are devout members of the United Presbyterian church, and they are highly esteemed and respected in the town which represents their home. Six children were born to them, Frederick G. being the eldest of that number, and the others being Elizabeth G., Mamie B., Vance, Reed and Lucile.
Frederick G. Neel received his preliminary educational training in the public schools of Idaville, Indiana, and he was later graduated from the high school of Monticello, Indiana, that event taking place in 1905. He then gave his attention to teaching and for two and a half years he taught school in White county. It was thus that he earned the money which secured to him the best part of his college education. He was graduated from the scientific department of the university at Valparaiso, Indiana, and was a student for some time at the University of Indiana at Bloomington. In January, 1908, he accepted a position as teacher in the schools of Royal Center, and so well did he succeed in his work that in 1911 he was elected to the superintendency of the schools, which position he now holds. He is making rapid advancement in his work, and has placed the work of the schools of Royal Center on a par with that of the schools of much larger places.
On June 19, 1909, Mr. Neel was united in marriage with Miss Lottie G. Vernon a native of White county, where she was reared and educated. Two children have been born to them: James Robert, aged three years, and Wilma Vivian, now one year old.
Mr. Neel is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and affiliates with Royal Center Lodge No. 585. Both he and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Royal Center, and he is one of the trustees of that body, as well as having served as superintendent of its Sunday school.
OLIVER H. BINNS. The Casparis Stone Company has found in Oliver H. Binns from its earliest inception an able and efficient manager and general superintendent, and in giving a summary of the life of Mr. Binns, it is entirely in keeping with the general fitness of things that the history of the Casparis Stone Company be outlined more or less briefly. This flourishing concern was organized in 1892 with a capital- ization of $100,000, under the laws of the state of Ohio, and the stock was subscribed for by Ohio people, in the main. The primary object of the company was to quarry limestone, the demand being from man- ufacturing centers for blast furnace purposes. The company originally purchased three hundred and sixty-eight acres of land in Noble township, Cass county, since which time it has added five hundred acres to its holdings. The work was begun soon after incorporation, and a plant was erected at a cost of $50,000, Oliver H. Binns, the subject of this review, being appointed superintendent in charge of the erection
ยท
1135
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
of the plant, and upon its completion he became general superintendent. The firm found no difficulty in securing.a market for its product, and they experienced a steady increase in sales from the outset. In 1897 the capital stock was increased to $500,000, and has so continued up to the present time. The present output aggregates one million tons per annum and the principal markets are South Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Gary. Aside from these points, their product goes largely into road construction throughout northern Indiana. The plant employs an aver- age of two hundred and fifty men, and is run at capacity the year around. Since the erection of the original plant, a practically new one was built in 1902 to take the place of the old one, which was no longer adequate to the demands of the constantly growing business.
Oliver H. Binns, the capable superintendent in charge of this splen- did enterprise, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1860. When he was twelve years old he moved to Columbus with his family and was there reared and educated in the public schools. His graduation from the high school of that city took place when he was seventeen years old, soon after which he entered the employ of a railroad contractor, and for two years he continued to be thus occupied, learning much of mechan- ical and constructive work that destined to be of great value to him in later years. His employers gradually drifted into the stone business, and Mr. Binns continued with them, coming to Logansport in 1892, which city has ever since represented his home and the scene of his busi- ness activities.
In 1894 Mr. Binns married, and he maintains a home in Logansport, although his work at the quarries keeps him there a goodly part of the time. Mr. Binns is a director of the First National Bank of Logans- port, and is recognized as one of the substantial business men of the city. He is a Republican, but not active as an office holder or seeker, and he is a member of the B. P. O. E.
MAJOR W. H. SNIDER. Now living retired in Logansport, after a long and successful career as a merchant of this city, Major Snider is a native of Indiana. He was living in Ohio when the War of the Rebellion broke out, and was one of the honored and valiant soldiers from that state during the struggle, but for more than forty-five years has been iden- tified with Cass county, Indiana.
William H. Snider was born at Centreville, in Wayne county, In- diana, and is of good old American stock. His parents were Frederick V. and Mary (Smith) Snider, his father a native of Virginia and the mother of Ohio. The father was a cabinet maker by trade and died in Centreville. Besides Major Snider there was one son and two daugh- ters in the family.
In Wayne county, Major Snider spent his boyhood and completed his education in the Whitewater seminary at Centreville. He was a hoy when the war came on, and in July, 1862, enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was promoted to lieutenant of Com- pany F, and in February, 1863, became captain. In January, 1865, he was made major of his regiment. His military record includes active participation in campaigns and battles from the early months of the war until its close, and the more important are mentioned as follows:
1136
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY
Battle of Perryville, Kentucky ; Stone River and Murfreesboro, Tennes- see ; the campaign after Chickamauga, leading up to the siege of Atlanta. in which he fought at Resaca and Peachtree, in Georgia; at Jonesboro, Georgia, and the various engagements about Atlanta; he was with Gen- eral Sherman on his march from Atlanta to the sca, participating in all the engagements of that campaign; then was in the Sherman campaign from Savannah north to the Carolinas, to Richmond, Virginia. He was mustered out with his regiment at Washington, D. C., after the war had closed.
With this rank and experience as a soldier Major Snider returned home, and in May, 1867, arrived in Cass county, having been a resident of Logansport ever since. From 1867 until 1910 he was engaged in the crockery business at Logansport. Major Snider in November, 1871, married Miss Mary Jerolaman, a daughter of George M. and Mary Jerolaman. Major Snider is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has taken an active part in social and civic affairs. He is a Knight Tem- plar Mason, is a member of the Loyal Legion military organization, com- prising the officers of the late war; the Tuesday Night Club and the Deutscher Verein.
WILLIAM HEFFLEY. Although making his home in the city of Logans- port, William Heffley is reckoned among the successful farming men of this region. He owns a fine farm of about eighty acres in Miami township, where he was reared and educated, and this place is now operated by a man who is hired by Mr. Heffley for that express purpose.
Born in Cass county on January 1, 1864, William Heffley is the son of Simon P. and Mary E. (Kline) Heffley, who came to Indiana in their young lives, settling in Montgomery county first, and later coming to Cass county. The father settled on a farm in Miami township, and there reared his family and ended his days. It was a wild and untouched bit of land, heavily wooded and utterly unfit for the production of a crop until a vast amount of toil had been expended upon it, but the sturdy countryman brought out of it a productive little farm-one that sus- tained him in his later years and now adds considerably to the income of his son. Since William Heffley came into ownership of the place, he has added something to it in improvement as well as in acreage, and the place of seventy acres is more expansive now by some twenty acres. He has improved the building in many ways, and made of it a prosper- ous and well kept place.
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.