USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 46
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Mr. Douglas and Mr. Breckinridge, he gave his undivided support to the last named gentleman, influenced thereto by a belief that his election would prevent the threatened civil war. Again, when his party rallied to the support of Mr. Greeley, he manifested his dis- sent by supporting Mr. O'Connor for the presidency. He opposed, alike, the ultra anti-slavery men of the North and the pro-slavery men of the South, averring that the former gave the pretext for dis- satisfaction in the South, while the latter exaggerated the pretext to unreasonably increase the dissatisfaction. He thought both, though antipodes in profession, were seeking the same end-civil war and dissolution of the Union. He appears to have forseen the war sev- eral years before its occurrence, and warned the Southern members of Congress of its consequences to their section, portraying those consequences, in one of his speeches in Congress, much as they sub- sequently occurred. When the war came he raised a regiment ( the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteers), and at its head entered the Fed- eral service. He was soon placed in command of a brigade, with which he participated in the siege and capture of Fort Thompson, at New Madrid. His command likewise composed part of Gen. Palm- er's division, which, subsequent to the capture of Fort Thompson, blockaded the Mississippi River, at Ruddle's Point, to prevent rein- forcements and supplies reaching Island No. 10 from below. After- ward he was detached, with his brigade, from Gen. Pope's command, to co-operate with Coms. Foote and Davis in the siege of Fort Pil- low, and conducted the siege so vigorously as to materially aid in the forced abandonment of the fort by the Confederate troops. The next day after its capture, he descended the river and captured Memphis, holding it some days, until the arrival of Gen. Slack, of the Forty-seventh Indiana. He then, with his own regiment, em- barked for the White River, Arkansas, where he captured St. Charles and rendered other valuable service. Upon the completion of the campaign he returned home to enjoy the remainder of his days in peace. Since the close of the war he has continued to prac- tice his profession, not interfering in political affairs, except to preserve the integrity of his inherent ideas of right, by opposing, with the vigor of his palmier days, whatever he conceives to be wrong, in civil and political affairs alike.
MOSES R. FRAZEE, one of the most successful merchants of Logansport, is a native of Miami County, Ohio, and the son of Da- vid and Mary ( Price) Frazee, his parents born in Wales, and Ohio, respectively. He was born in August, 1834, received his educational training in the common schools of his native county, and at the age of fifteen became salesman in a dry goods house at Piqua, Ohio, in which capacity he continued about six years. At the end of that time he took charge of a dry goods business in Marion, Ind., for J. B. Whipple, of Piqua, and continued there until 1857, when he came
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to Logansport and established a business of his own, which soon became very prosperous. In 1858 he effected a copartnership with A. L. Williams, under the firm name of Frazee & Williams, which lasted until 1861. . From 1861 till 1866 he did business alone, and in the latter year abandoned merchandising and engaged in the milling business at Minneapolis, Minn., where he remained until 1870. He returned to Logansport that year, and in 1873 went into the dry goods business in partnership with his brother, J. N. Frazee, under the firm name of Frazee & Bro., which continued until 1880, when he purchased his brother's interest, and since that time has been doing a very lucrative business by himself, his store being one of the most prosperous business houses in the city. In his business Mr. Frazee is prompt and methodical, not given to speculation, being sat- isfied with gradual but sure gains; in short, possesses those correct business principles which generally insure success. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought nor held any official position. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a liberal patron of churches and other enterprises having for their view the public good. Mr. Frazee was married August, 1864, to Miss Mary C. Hig- gins, daughter of Capt. A. M. Higgins, a union which has been blessed with the birth of three children, namely: Stewart R., Helen and Jesse Frazee, the last two deceased.
WILLIAM GRACE was born in Rush County, Ind., September 18, 1841, and is the fourth son of C. and Juda (Stafford ) Grace, natives, respectively, of Indiana and Virginia, and of Scotch-Irish origin. The father came to Logansport in 1846, and was for a num- ber of years identified with the business interests of the county and city. William Grace was five years of age when his parents moved to Logansport. He received a practical education in the city schools, and at the age of eighteen entered the employ of the Pan Handle Railroad Company as brakesman, and subsequently held the position of baggageman, continuing in the employ of the road until 1862. In July that year he entered the army, enlisting in the Fifty-fifth Regiment, with the one hundred day men, and at the expiration of this period of service returned to Logansport and accepted the position of salesman in the mercantile house of Merriam, Rice & Howe, where he remained for a period of about four years. In 1867, he engaged in the grocery business in partnership with Joseph Grusenmeyer, and one year later re-entered the service of the Pan Handle Railroad Company, accepting a position in the depot at Logansport, which he held until becoming a partner in the clothing business with Isaac Shi- deler. The house at the present time is known as that of Wm. Grace & Co., and is one of the largest clothing firms in the city. Mr. Grace was married, in 1865, to Miss Sarah Grusenmeyer, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Joseph Grusenmeyer. He is a member of the K. of P. and takes an active interest in political affairs, voting the Democratic ticket.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
JOHN B. GROVER. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born in Madison, Ind., April 7, 1822, and is the eld- est and only child living of Gen. N. D. and Elizabeth (Brisben) Grover. N. D. Grover was born in Maryland, of Scotch parentage, and was one of the earliest settlers of Cass County, coming here as sub-Indian agent under Gen. Tipton in the year 1829. He was a saddler by trade, and carried on a shop in connection with the mer- cantile business for a number of years, during the early history of Logansport. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, repre- senting Cass County in the Legislature during the session of 1841- +2, served as city clerk from 1850 to 1860, and took active interest in all enterprises having for their object the public good. He took a gallant part in the last war with Great Britain, and departed this life in Logansport June 17, 1875, His wife, Elizabeth Grover, was a native of Pennsylvania, born of English ancestors, and died October 29, 1830. John B. Grover was seven years of age when his parents moved to Cass County, and from that time until the present, he has been one of its honored and widely known citizens. His rudiment- ary education was received in the common schools, supplemented by a course in Wabash College, which institution he entered at the age of sixteen, remaining three years, during which time he made substantial progress in his various studies. In June, 1846, he en- listed in Company G of the first regiment raised for the Mexican war, with which he served for a period of thirteen months, the greater part of the time being spent in Mexico. He early learned the apothecary's profession, which he'followed until 1860. Two years later he moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he afterward entered the army, enlisting in the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry, and serving with the same during the last years of the war. At the expiration of his term of service Mr. Grover returned to Columbus, and ac- cepted the position of book-keeper for the Baltimore & Ohio and Pan Handle Railroads, in which capacity he continued until his re- turn to Logansport in 1872. In the latter year he engaged with the Pan Handle Company as clerk, the duties of which position he is still discharging. Mr. Grover has had a useful life, and in his dealings with his fellow-men has acquired a record for efficiency and integrity of which any one might feel proud. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and as such has rendered valuable service to his party in Cass County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Orient Lodge, No. 272. On November 3, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Sharp, of Columbus, Ohio. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Grover are three in number: Jesse, Cassius and Julia.
ROBERT F. GROVES (deceased). The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was a native of Philadelphia, Penn., born in the year 1808. He received a classical education in his
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native city, and when quite young commenced the study of medi- cine under his brother, Michael Groves, a distinguished physician of Philadelphia, but never engaged in the practice, abandoning the profession for that of the law, in which he acquired great pro- ficiency. He came to Logansport in 1834, was admitted to the Cass County bar shortly thereafter, and about the year 1836 was elected justice of the peace. In 1846 he was appointed postmaster of Logansport, to fill the unexpired term of Chauncey Carter, and dis- charged the duties of that office until 1848. Two years later he was elected county probate judge, serving in that capacity until 1854, and in 1856 was appointed by President Buchanan postmaster of Logansport, the duties of which position he discharged in an emi- nently satisfactory manner until 1861. He served two terms as mayor of Logansport, and against his record as an official no tinge of suspicion ever rested. His death occurred in the year 1875. In 1828 he married Miss Rebecca Barnes, of Philadelphia, by whom he had eight children, four of whom are living, viz .: Rebecca C., Ellen N., Mary F. and George J. George J. Groves was born in Logansport, Ind., September 11, 1839. He was educated in the city high school, and in 1859 accepted a clerkship in the postoffice, under S. A. Hall, and continued in that capacity until the breaking out of the civil war. He entered the naval service, in 1861, as fourth master of the Mississippi Squadron, and from 1862 until the close of the war was commander of the "Fairplay," a vessel carry- ing a crew of 180 men, He was mustered out of the service in 1866 as lieutenant commanding, after which he came to Logansport, where he has since resided. He was deputy county recorder from 1883 till 1885, and at the present time is engaged in the insurance and real estate business. Mr. Groves is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, and as such has been an important factor in local politics.
WILLIAM HAGENBUCK. Prominent among the leading business men of Logansport is the gentleman whose biographical sketch is herewith presented. Mr. Hagenbuck is a native of La- porte County, Ind., and son of William and Harriet (Hews) Hagenbuck, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hagenbuck was born January 24, 1846, and grew to manhood in his native county, in the common schools of which he obtained a good English educa- tion. He early engaged in the lumber business, a branch of industry he carried on as a specialty until the year 1868. He entered the army in 1864, volunteering in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry, with which he served until honorably discharged the following year. He came to Cass County in 1865, and engaged in the saw-milling and lumber business at New Waverly, and three years later moved to Logansport and started a binding factory, out of which subsequently grew the present large manufacturing estab-
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lishment of Hagenbuck, Parker & Co .. one of the leading industries of the city. Mr. Hagenbuck is a careful business man, and to his skillful management is much of the success of the above enterprise due. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Mary Huffman, of New Waverly, Ind., a union blessed with the birth of three children: Harry L., Earl O. and Cora B.
SAMUEL ALONSON HALL, late of Logansport, Ind., was born at Willoughby, Ohio, December 4, 1823. He was a descend- ant of Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. His father, Samuel A. Hall, died just before the birth of his son Samuel. He was one of the early business men of Willoughby. At the age of thirteen Mr. Hall commenced to learn the printer's trade in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1839 he removed to Manhattan, Ohio, and was employed by M. H. Knapp. Three years later, under the same employer, he worked on the Kalida Venture. In 1843 he was employed by Messrs. Steadman & Knapp, in the publication of the North Western, at Defiance, Ohio. He pur- chased the printing material of the last named establishment, and started West to seek a suitable location. He was induced by some members of a Baptist association to visit Logansport, Ind. Becom- ing convinced that it was a desirable place, he began, in July, 1844, the publication of the Democratic Pharos. The young editor was harassed by many embarrassments, but a determined will enabled him to triumph over every obstacle. He lived to see the work he so inauspiciously began a quarter of a century ago, develop into one of the first printing establishments of the State. He was pro- prietor and editor of the Democratic Pharos until January 1, 1869. Mr. Hall, during the Southern Rebellion, was a firm friend of the Union cause. Though a Democrat of the Douglas type, so well did he manage political campaigns that he won the esteem of his polit- ical opponents. In the spring of 1843 he became a member of the Baptist Church, and from that time till the day of his death, April 10, 1870, was an earnest and consistent Christian, and in his last illness exemplified the full faith he had in a hope beyond the grave. In all the public and private charities of Logansport, Mr. Hall's name and individual efforts were always foremost. He was a man of large sympathy, and of the most Christian charity. In all the attributes of honorable manhood-honesty of purpose, uprightness of character and Christian simplicity-Mr. Hall stood prominent. In November, 1846, he married Miranda P. Nash, of Logansport. There are five children living.
WILLARD N. HALL, of the firm of Hall & O'Donald, print- ers and publishers, was born in Logansport, Ind., June 2, 1856, and is the son of Samuel A. and Miranda (Nash) Hall, natives, respec- tively, of Ohio and Maine. W. N. Hall was educated in the schools of Logansport, and at an early age entered his father's printing
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office to learn the printer's trade. He purchased stock in the Pharos in 1875 and 1877, and in 1878 established his present busi- ness-general printing and publishing-which is one of the most successful enterprises of the city and one of the largest of the kind in northern Indiana. The firm of Hall & O'Donald was formed in 1884, and the business they do would be a credit to a much larger city than Logansport. Mr. Hall was married, in March, 1883, to Miss Lulu Robbins, of Rochester, Ind.
HENRY C. HAMMONTREE. Mr. Hammontree was born in Loudoun County, Va., May, 1832, son of William W. and Dorcas A. (Manly) Hammontree, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Mary- land. The subject, when two years old, was taken by his parents to Montgomery County, Md., where he enjoyed such educational ad- vantages as were afforded by the common schools. At the age of seventeen he began working at the plane-maker's trade in Balti- more, which he continued five years, and at the end of that time en- gaged in the cabinet business, which he continued a number of years in Maryland and Indiana. He entered the army in August, 1862, enlisting in the Eighty-eighth Indiana, with which he served until mustered ont in May, 1865, participating in a number of bat- tles in the meantime, among which were Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Macklena Cove and others. He came to Logansport in June, 1866, and engaged in the cabinet- maker's trade with W. T. S. Manly and continued the same at intervals until 1884. In April of the latter year he was elected on the Republican ticket trustee of Eel Township, the duties of which position he is discharging at the present time, having been re-elected in 1886. He was deputy sheriff under W. T. S. Manly from 1873 to 1877. Mr. Hammontree was married, in June, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Beckley, of Ohio. To this marriage seven children have been born, six living: Lula A., William W., George H., Robert E., Frederick and Harry C. Mr. Hammontree is a member of the G. A. R., I. O. O. F., K. of L., and since his twenty- first year has voted with the Republican party.
WILLIAM W. HANEY, Logansport, is the son of Joseph and Mary Weaver Haney, and was born in Bucks County, Penn., on the 25th of December, 1809. Mr. Haney's parents were not in affluent circumstances, and, as a consequence, were unable to provide him with other educational privileges than such as were attainable in the country school of that period; hence, it may be said with pro- priety, he was not an educated man, in the accepted meaning of the term, yet thoroughly skilled in the details of practical busi- ness, such as is acquired only by the experience of years and the active observations of well developed common sense. He began life on a farm, and received there his early parental training. After- ward, life in a hotel, then an under clerk in a store. gave variety to
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his early experience. At the age of seventeen years, without money or estate, he left the paternal roof to become the architect of his own fortune. That he succeeded, the sequel fully discloses. About that time, the Delaware division of the Pennsylvania Canal was being located from Easton to Bristol, and, the opportunity pre- senting itself, he became connected with the engineering corps hav- ing that work in charge, and with them took his first lesson in experience, holding that position for about one year. He next en- gaged in running coal out on the river, for a short season, then becoming bartender and stage agent in R. Latimore's hotel, at Eas- ton, Penn. This experience added one year more to his life disci- pline, after which he accepted the superintendency of a division of the canal, and having succeeded in that trust for a twelve-month, coal-boating next engrossed his attention during a like period, at the end of which time he was induced to resume the supervision of the Pennsylvania Canal. On this contract he continued two years, and then left to become a contractor for the construction of the Delaware & Raritan Canal feeder, on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. He immediately took charge of this work-orig- inally let to Moore & Brown-and completed it in less than one year. He was then employed by the Delaware & Raritan Company to take charge of a portion of said feeder, and continued in their employ about one year longer. Being satisfied with his experience east of the Alleghanies, on the 17th of March, 1835, he turned his face westward, and taking the river route, by steamer, flat-boat and pirogue, landed at Peru, Ind., then all in the wilderness, on July 4 following. Shortly after his arrival in Peru he took charge of a number of men engaged in the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal. In connection with that charge, he opened a stone quarry below Peru, for John Cooper, contractor for the Peru dam. The same fall he took a contract for the construction of a section of the canal at Lewisburg, and finished it the following year. Succeeding in this enterprise, he engaged in selling goods at Lewisburg with Alexander Wilson, also trading with the Indians. Three years later, he purchased Mr. Wilson's interest and continued business alone, trading largely in real estate and canal scrip, with other securities, at that point, until the summer of 1851. On July 15 of that year he moved to Logansport, where he embarked in general merchandising. In this business, however, he remained but a short time, and then sold out his entire stock. Since that time he has been chiefly engaged in real estate transactions, discounting mon- eyed obligations, etc. For several years he served as president of the Branch Bank of the State of Indiana, at Logansport. In all his business transactions, Mr. Haney has shown himself to be a man of uncommon sagacity and discreetness of judgment, of scrupulous in- tegrity and gentlemanly demeanor. Mr. Haney was married, on
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December 13, 1836, to Miss Louisiana Fidler, who bore him two children: William E., born December 28, 1837, and Maria Emma, born December 31, 1845, the latter of whom died a few years since. In his social relations, also, Mr. Haney takes a high rank, making the most of life, for the enjoyments consequent upon a long life of diligent toil, to secure a compensation for his loved ones.
HENRY HEIDEN is a native of Hanover, Germany, and the son of Henry and Johanna ( Wieseman) Heiden. He was born December 14, 1846, and when two years of age was brought to the United States, being taken direct to Ft. Wayne, Ind., where his parents resided a few months. From Ft. Wayne the family came to Logansport, where the father worked at the stone-mason's trade and butchering business until his death in 1856. He was a man of considerable intelligence, and previous to coming to the United States had served as a soldier in the German Army. Henry Heiden began life for himself as clerk in the grocery and liquor store of Richard Ladders, with whom he remained from 1866 until 1868, and in the latter year engaged in the bakery and provision business for Joseph Seiter, with whom he continued about two years. At the end of that time he engaged as bartender for Adam Stulzer, with whom he remained for a period of eight years, purchasing the business at the end of that time, which he has since continued. Mr. Heiden was married, August 31, 1871, to Miss Louisa Hepp, a na- tive of Germany, which union has been blessed with the birth of five children, viz .: Lonisa, Anna, Henry, John and Elvira.
THOMAS B. HELM, Logansport. Change is constant and general; generations arise and pass, unmarked, away; and it is a duty to posterity, as well as a present gratification, to place upon the printed page a true record of the parent's life. In the year 1781 William Helm emigrated from Virginia, and settled near Blue Lick, Kentucky. He was a native of Virginia, the line of ancestry extending over a period of years to Germany, through England and Ireland, and thence to Virginia. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Drummond, was a lineal descendant of the ancient Scot- tish house of that name. Their son, Samuel D. Helm, was the father of the gentleman for whom this biography is prepared. He married Miss Patience Wherrett, who was born near Hagerstown, Md. Her family genealogy reverts to the south of France, where the family was known by the name of Verette, since modified to its present orthography. Thomas B. Helm, with whom we are more directly interested in this sketch, was born on the 1st of February, 1822, in Fayette County, Ind. His parents moved to that county from Kentucky March 1, 1810, and were the first permanent white settlers of that county. They were farmers in good circumstances, and determined to place their son within reach of a good education and the advantages secured thereby. He was sent to school at a
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very early age, and, from the first days of his school life, manifested great aptness in his studies and an eagerness to acquire knowledge: and as soon as his young mind was prepared to grapple with the difficulties of mathematics and the sciences he began the study of those branches, evincing especial interest in the science of language, in which he was rarely excelled by any one, and never by his school-mates. He possessed a very susceptible memory. of unusual strength and range, and mastered whatever he undertook with com- paratively little effort. After completing a primary course in the common schools he entered upon an academic course, completing, first, a thorough course in mathematics, after which he turned his attention to the study of languages, ancient and modern, in which he acquired remarkable proficiency. We may safely term him a fine linguist and conversant with several languages. He became an excellent scholar in the Latin and Greek languages, and in the latter has always been recognized as good authority on disputed points. On the 13th of September, 1836, he came to Cass County, and for a period of more than fifty years has been one of her hon- ored and respected citizens. In 1844 he began to impart to younger minds some of the knowledge acquired by himself through years of patient study, and from that time until the year 1873 he was more or less intimately connected with public educational interests. In the winter and spring of 1846-47 he assisted in the survey of the public lands constituting the great Miami Reserve. For a number of years he was engaged in the departments of surveying and civil engineering, and there can be no better evidence of his excellence in this department than the reputation awarded him by the public. His eminent fitness for the position resulted in his election to the office of city civil engineer in the year 1856, and for a period of fourteen years he held this position at intervals, at the same time filling other offices equally responsible. Within this period he acted as school examiner for Cass County, and filled that position creditably from 1856 to 1868, with the exception of one year. On the 20th of September, 1849, he married Miss Mary E. House, who bore him two children: Harry C. and Samuel L. The latter died in infancy. On the 5th of September, 1854, death severed all earthly ties between himself and his faithful wife. He was a second time married, on the 2d of January, 1859-Mrs. Cath- arine P. Davis becoming his bride. He became deputy clerk of the circuit and common pleas courts in 1853, and has been constantly engaged in the clerk's office since that time. He served as probate commissioner from 1871 to 1882. He is a deep student, and is well informed on all current topics. With the history of this county he has been especially interested, and for a number of years has been engaged in collecting data, which are embodied in the various de- partments of this work. He possesses one of the most valuable
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